The Observation Deck

Fellow Lakewoodites and Observation Deckers (Deckites?):

I am currently arranging to count the physical ballots that were cast Nov. 8 with a view to independently verify the results. According to the BoE, 22,929 total votes were cast with yeas at 11,818 and neys at 11,111. I know, I know.. I can hear the skeptical groans from here. However, I encourage you to check out the work that Bev Harris from BlackBoxVoting.org has done. She has uncovered a widely used tactic called "fraction magic" that essentially tells the central tabulating software to count certain votes as less than 1 or more than one. See here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ezmpqwVEnM.

The issue is that that is a lot of votes to count and what's needed is raw human power! If you can even spare an hour that would help. I will continue to post updates to here as details get nailed down.

Is this being done by the BOE? Was a challenge made?

I also would like to know how it came about, as it comes as a little bit of surprise, although I've been out of touch with SLH in the last couple of weeks and haven't seen anything about it.

After reading about fraction magic, I wouldn't call it a "widely used tactic" but something that COULD happen based on the code. I didn't see one instance of actual 'fraction magic' occurring anywhere, just speculation about that it could possibly happen. And, it isn't even Lakewood City Hall that uses GEMS, it would be the Cuyahoga Board of Elections. And they, really didn't care one way or another how the hospital vote went.

Jared Denman

You need to give more information. Any challenge or request for a recount had to have been made by a certain time, which I believe has passed.

Could you tell us exactly what us going on and what you are doing?

There is no need for an official request. Ballots are subject to Ohio Open Records requests. I'm requesting to see them to verify results. That is all.

Jared Denman wrote:There is no need for an official request. Ballots are subject to Ohio Open Records requests. I'm requesting to see them to verify results. That is all.

You mean, they will provide all the ballots with the votes without the names? If this is possible, I am in. I do not have a lot of time but I think it would be interesting to see if the results match the reported results. I am betting that all is on the up and up but still.....

The difference is still 707, after counting approximately 800 mailed ballots after November 8.

Is it true that the mailed ballots were just about exactly 50/50?

It is worth a recount.

If Pam and Marguerite are in so am I.

The gentleman at the Board of Elections days he would get back to me tomorrow at the latest. I'll let you know.

Jared Denman wrote:There is no need for an official request. Ballots are subject to Ohio Open Records requests. I'm requesting to see them to verify results. That is all.

So if the results are not verified and issue 64 failed after doing the recount, it will not change the official result?

As to be expected, the BOE is dragging its heels. They have not returned my calls. It is the Holidays but according to OhioOpen Records law the ballots should be allowed to be seen ob the day of the request. Will keep updating with developments.

While I don't trust the city and county governments much, I've heard few bad things about the BOE. I imagine they staffed up around the time of the election and are back to normal staffing levels now with people taking time off for the holidays and weather.