Election Integrity in Pima County At Crossroads

The RTA: The Unanswered Questions
New Tech Tools for Election Transparency
Party Volunteers Must Oversee Elections, Tighten Chain of Custody in Future Elections

The Election Integrity Committee brought the questionable behavior that has happened in Pima County through the ongoing public records litigation into the full light of public awareness of

Attorney Bill Risner has repeatedly petitioned the Attorney General and the courts to provide transparent remedies that will protect future elections. The case is now on appeal, but public access to the yellow sheets and poll tapes was blocked by a sealed court order. The Attorney General allowed a criminal investigation to languish through many months. His action to seize the ballots, take them to Maricopa County, and not officially disclose the whereabouts of the ballots shows that the office of the Attorney General is pursuing a course of secrecy that invites public speculation rather than public assurance.

How can we know that a secure chain of custody has been followed? Since this is an investigation about elections, we think the Attorney General should deliver on his word by offering some proof that he has custody of the ballots, who is going to count them, whether any one from Pima County will be allowed to observe the count, and when this count will happen? It would be prudent for the Attorney General to answer these questions and solicit support rather than to continue to deny the public's right to know under the cover of a criminal investigation. Criminal investigations rely on preserving a strict chain of custody. Let's persuade Attorney General Terry Goddard to release some of the details of ballot transport that would not compromise the investigation.

Voices of Opposition and Democracy for America co-sponsored the introduction of Fatally Flawed the movie to the wider Tucson community last Monday night on the UA campus. The well-attended event drew a KOLD news crew as well as John Moffatt, who must have been very uncomfortable witnessing himself on the big screen as a major proponent in the County's now debunked mayhem and chaos defense. The 30 minute intro composed of selected clips from the public records trial and local news clips and RTA advertisements highlighted a high stakes election supported by elected officials and the enormous effort and expense Pima County put toward obstructing public records. The take away raised questions about why the County would go to such great lengths to resist turning over public election records. Was it that they had something to hide? The film clearly made this point and was followed by an outstanding panel discussion by Bill Risner, Mickey Duniho, Jim March and John Brakey.

Election Integrity is positive! It is all about about opening up democratic participation through transparency! We have much work to do to educate the public that our work is not a game about carelessly throwing around accusations or besting opponents on one side or the other but about the foundational principles of our participatory democracy---a democracy that rests on public vote counting and oversight. There is no place for secrecy. No matter how many security measures we will be able to put in place, all of us must recognize we must all be vigilant to enforce a secure chain of custody. That means that it is the obligation of public officials to verify the outcome of elections and to follow a consistent secure chain of custody observed by political party volunteers. On the horizon are some exciting new technologies that will overcome some of the stubborn barriers sooner rather than later!

Sandra Spangler
Chair, Pima County Democratic Party Election Integrity Committee

View the First Trailer of Fatally Flawed