DAVID COBB: America needs a recount in Ohio
/Something went seriously wrong in Ohio on Election Day.
On Nov. 13 and 15, hearings conducted by the Ohio Election Protection
Coalition in Columbus featured oral and written testimony from a number
of voters, poll workers, precinct judges and legal observers. The
testimony confirmed numerous complaints tracked by election-watchdog
organizations and investigative journalists since Nov. 2. Those who
testified told stories of the obstruction and disqualification of
legitimate voters, malfunctioning computer voting machines, and
prohibitively long lines for too few machines. A pattern emerged: The
complaints came disproportionately from blacks, young people, and
precincts where Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry had strong
support. As the Green Party presidential candidate, I have a statutory
right to demand a recount of the presidential vote in Ohio. On Nov. 11,
I announced my intention to invoke that right, joined by Libertarian
candidate Michael Badnarik. We were compelled to demand a recount by
widespread reports of irregularities, to ensure that the final tally is
accurate and to restore faith in the electoral process. [more]
- Voters' Lawsuits, Evidence Gathering Continue in Ohio and Florida [more]
