Pat Foster

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Delivery of Freedom of Information Requests

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Allegan Township, Precinct 2

2008 General Election

3rd Party Results for President

                            Greens    US Taxpayers    Libertarian   Natural Law

Actual Results

    video above              8*       +           5             +         4          +       4     =     21

Official Results             4         +          2              +         3          +       2     =     11

Undercounted              5                      3                         1                    2     =     10

% Undercounted      100%              150%                   33%            100%        91%

*After publishing, I noted two Green ballots that appeared to be the same. I corrected the totals above. It happened during a break in taking pictures of the videos we had. There are still similiar differences on the Senator's and Congressmen's races.

      When you look at the numbers, they are small, but the percentages are very large. Now consider that this is only one precinct out of thousands across the state. If these uncounted differences are true in the majority of other precincts throughout the state, this would lead you to ask some very important questions. Is there collusion between the two main political parties, Democrats and Republicans to minimize the results of the 3rd Party movement? Do they control access to the ballots, so that information like this does not become public? While we cannot affirmatively answer these questions at this point, we can certainly look at their behavior in attempting to hide these ballots from public scrutiny. Too many people have paid the ultimate sacrifce for our democracy to allow a few to take it away from us.

     This editor and the volunteers of all political persuasions that accompanied me on August 24th wish to thank Ms. Linda Evans, the Clerk of Allegan Township for being the only one to immediately look at the law and allow us to video tape the ballots in her uncountable precinct. She derserves the respect and honor of every citizen in Allegan County, the State of Michigan, and the United States of America. Our country is built on people like her.

     A question was asked if we are intruding upon the privacy of the individual voters by asking to see the ballots. The answer is NO. Everybody is guaranteed the right to a "secret ballot". You vote in private, and before you insert your ballot into the reader, the number on your ballot is removed by an election worker. It then becomes a "public document" that should be available to anyone who wishes to see them in total. There are no marks allowed on a ballot so that it can be referred back to you the voter. If the only people ever allowed to see the ballots are those who control our government, we do not have a democracy, because we have no way of verifying what they tell us is true. The Freedom of Information Acts are based upon the publics right to know what is happening even in elections. If you want your ballot to be counted as you voted it, then it is in your best interest that as many diverse people as possible look at those ballots to make sure they agree with totals from machines that have proven to be unreliable.

Check the new blogs for additional information on the political situation in Allegan County.

Legal Fund

We need to ask for funds to bring legal action against the townships and cities that refuse to allow us to see the ballots. To date, we have not received any replies from a city or township that have met the Freedom of Information Acts' exceptions. If you just wish to make a tax deductible contribution under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code  then you can contribute to the Michigan Election Reform Alliance.org. Make your check to:

               MERA - Legal Fund

               6079 Mallard Drive

               Fennville, Michigan 49408

Communities Served Freedom of Information Act Requests

City or Township                      Current Status  

City of Allegan                                  In the process of competing the photographing of the ballots

City of Douglas                                 Ballots photographed - Unused ballots unavailable - Results inconclusive

City of Fennville                                City Council is stonewalling us - Open to lawsuit

City of Holland                                  Photographed the ballots

City of Otsego                                  Photographed the ballots                                                                           City of Plainwell                                Photographed the ballots

City of Saugatuck                              Photographed the ballots

Allegan Township                              Patriot - Legally recognized our FOIA - differences above

Dorr Township                                   Photographed the ballots - 41 ballots shy on uncountable precinct

Ganges Township                              Photographed the ballots

Gun Plain Township                           In the process of photograhing the ballots

Heath Township                                 Ballots photographed but not counted - Unused ballots may be available

Laketown Township                            FOIA coordinator stonewalling us on costs - Open to lawsuit

Manlius Township                              Photographed the ballots

Otsego Township                               Photographed the ballots - count shows major differences

Saugatuck Township                          Township Board stonewalling us on costs - Open to lawsuit

Valley Township                                 Photographed the ballots - some differences noted in preliminary count

Watson Township                               Photographed the ballots

Note: Mike Cox, the Attorney General has issued an AG Opinion that the citizens of Michigan have a right to FOIA and see the ballots on May 13, 2010. On May 6, 2010, the lawfirm of Butzel & Long out of Ann Arbor sent letters to all the stonewalling jurisdictions asking to see the ballots. It could be a campaign issue? Is that right, Mike?

 Ask your clerk to see the ballots

It appears that the state and federal governments do not have any real legal grounds to keep us from seeing the ballots. They have just been using a huge bluff. You should do your own Freedom of Information Act request to see the ballots in your own precincts. Use our sample FOIA request. Your actions will force government to give us honest elections. If you encounter any problems, please feel to call me. Help is very close! Your freedom and control over your own life is at stake. Not one issue that you feel strongly about is possible without your voice be heard through the ballot box. Give that voice some strength by speaking out now to your government by demanding to see the ballots and count them.

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