----- Original Message -----
From: "John D. Giorgis" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Thursday, November 09, 2000 7:39 PM
Subject: Second Thoughts
> Well, I've been in Ohio all day and have not had much chance to read mail,
but here are some interesting tidbits that have come in over the day.
>
> ISSUE #1 - 19,000 Ballots thrown out.
> It turns out that in 1996, with much lower turnout, almost 15,000 ballots
were thrown out. Thus, this figure is statistically not unusual, and cannot
justify a revote, nor can it be blamed on the "butterfly" ballot (as the
format is known.)
>
>From one county/precinct or overall throughout the entire state?
> ISSUE #2 - Butterfly ballots are confusing.
> Turns out that butterfly ballots have been used several times before,
including in Gore Campaign Chairman Daley's own Cook County, IL. Most
importantly, a local judge, the County Elections Director (a registered
Democrat and Gore supporter), and *both* campaigns approved the ballot
beforehand. This effectively eliminates any legal basis for the Gore
campaign to call for a recount.
>
Again, what were the 2 campaigns looking for when they gave their approval -
usability and clarity or simply that they were on the ballot and their names
weren't mispelled?
> ISSUE #3 - Pat Buchanan had an usually large support at 3,500 votes.
> Maybe not. The Reform Party congressional candidate had 2,500 votes.
Buchanan puled 3,000 votes here in a meaningless Republican Primary in 1996
(Dole had already won the nomination.) Since 1996, Reform Party
registration has doubled here, to 16,000 refistered voters (compared to less
than 1,000 in a neighboring County.) Thus, it is reasonable to believe
that Pat really had those votes.
>
Possibly, but even Buchannan is on the record as questioning the votes he
got there.
> Finally, I am very concerned that there may be a "Salem Witch Trial
Effect." People are very open to the power of suggestion, and it is very
easy to be "convinced" that you messed up a ballot that you can't see any
more.
>
Agreed, but since we can't measure that OR the original effect... *shrug*
..what concerns me is a 5% error rate (the 19k plus the ~3k)
-j-
