had difficulty selecting their candidate of choice during the first few days of early voting. However, all voters acknowledged that they were eventually able to select their candidate of choice and cast their ballot accurately. Further, more than 35,000 West Virginians have successfully cast ballots in the early voting process, which started October 15, with only few reported problems.
As soon as these issues were reported, the Secretary of State's Office immediately contacted the county clerks and advised them to examine their machines, examine the calibration of the machine to ensure that a touch of the screen made the appropriate selection and recalibrate if necessary. The Secretary of State's Office also had a representative of ES&S, the manufacturer of the equipment, visit both the Jackson and Putnam County courthouses, where a few voters had reported problems, and examine all touch screen machines used for early voting in those two counties. Both the Jackson County and Putnam County clerks, and the ES&S representative (a West Virginia resident), have affirmatively stated that the machines are accurately recording the voter's choices. For those citizens who have not yet voted, Secretary Ireland advises those voters to notify a poll clerk if they experience any problem at the voting booth, to ask for help, and to keep that poll clerk there until the voter is satisfied they have cast their vote as they intended. This may include moving to another machine, if that is the voter's wish.Secretary Ireland also reminds voters that when using a touch screen electronic voting machine, always check the "paper trail" beside the screen, during the voting process, to make sure their vote went to the candidate they selected. Finally, check the confirmation screens when at the end of the ballot - voters always have the option to go back and change their vote, for any reason, before hitting the "Cast your vote" button to complete the process.The iVotronic touch screen electronic voting machines are certified on both federal and state levels. State code requires stringent testing of all voting machines before each election. All county clerks, their employees and their poll workers are trained on preparing the machines for use and handling issues that may arise. Further, on Election Day (November 4th), there will be 350 people on the ground all over the state to respond to any problems that may arise in the polling place. These 350 represent ES&S personnel, Secretary of State elections personnel, Secretary of State Fraud Unit personnel, technicians from the Governor's Office of Technology, and technical rovers resident in each county. This election marks the 4th election in West Virginia using the touch screen technology. The three prior elections were a resounding success, where few if any problems with the machines were experienced. Touch screen machines are utilized in 34 counties in West Virginia, with optical scans balloting in use in 19 counties. The two remaining counties use paper ballots."We know our state and our entire nation are fully engaged in this year's elections-possibly as never before - and that's a good thing. At a time when our military is at war, and our economy is seeking stability, we fully realize that partisan politics are running deep, and emotions are running high. But I can assure you, without reservation, that those who are involved in the process of elections in WV are fiercely dedicated to having a good election, no matter what his or her political affiliation may be-on that goal, we are truly united," stated Ireland."As West Virginia's Secretary of State, and this state's Chief Election Official, I would never expose our citizenry to equipment that I thought was faulty, or a machine that would alter your vote in any manner. So today, I call on everyone, Republicans, Democrats, Mountain Party Members, and Independents alike, and the media to work together to help make this election a successful process. And when our nation's 2008 election cycle has been completed, let's put this one in the record books with pride-because we ran a good, fair and clean election in the state of WV," Secretary Ireland said. | ||||
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New Manchin ad, Scientology commercial, or just the 'Dawn of the Dead' trailer?
The new TV ad being run by the Manchin campaign is embarrassing for everyone involved, not just because of the ad itself, but because of its portrayal of West Virginians as sheep moving in slow motion to the tune of their personal pied piper.The creepy ad, fittingly released near Halloween, features what appears to be hundreds of individuals walking down a road in slow motion with blank stares on their faces as a voice-over and graphics tout happy economic news. Finally, near the end of the spot, Manchin himself appears, leading this dazed and spaced out crowd. One has the feeling at the end of the ad that just around the corner is a steep cliff, and as long as Manchin goes over the edge, the rest will happily follow, like a scene from a B-grade attack-of-the-zombies movie.Naturally, the ad features Chamber of Commerce and union reps side by side, stopping just short of singing a verse of "Kumbaya."All in all, the ad looks like it could have been produced by the Church of Scientology, everyone in lockstep, everyone overdosed on that special Kool-Aid, everyone strolling along in a content, numb show of unquestioning unity, led by their own personal L. Ron Hubbard.If Mojo is unbearable now, he'll be insufferable at 71%
I haven't talked to anyone who believes the Rasmussen Poll that has Gov. Joe Manchin leading Russ Weeks by a 71-21 margin, but one observer made an interesting suggestion on Wednesday. The individual's identity must be guarded for his own protection, but what he said was, "What Russ should do is campaign on the message that if Joe is unbearable now, he'll be insufferable if he gets 71 percent of the vote."Indeed, the specter of a Mojo emboldened by such a landslide should strike enough fear into the hearts of even Democrat legislators that they should be mobilizing an underground "Stop Mojo" campaign for their own sake. If they think Manchin is a legislative bully now -- and he certainly is -- imagine the hubris to which he will feel entitled with a mandate-sized election return.So, Democrats Unite! 
BEFORE AND AFTER -- As one observer on Wednesday suggested, a landslide of 70 percent or more would cause Mojo's head to swell to roughly ten times its current size. Left, Mojo's head today. Right, Mojo's head after landslide. Capitol Dome is shown for scale.
BETTY IRELAND
(Press Release) On Wednesday, Secretary of State Betty Ireland held a news conference to discuss recent reports of purported problems regarding touch screen electronic voting machines.At the outset of the news conference, Secretary Ireland reiterated her commitment to providing West Virginian's with accurate, reliable and trustworthy elections: "I am committed to having fair and clean elections in West Virginia, as I have been since the day I took office nearly 4 years ago," Secretary Ireland stated.Recent news reports indicated that a handful of voters Ireland says voting in WV is both accurate and reliable
New Manchin campaign ad? No, but close
The above clip is not exactly the new Manchin campaign ad, but it's eerily similar in that it features mindless zombies on an unstoppable march.
McCain, Palin say crisis not license for wasteful spending
Senator John McCain and Governor Sarah Palin this week issued the following statement concerning proposals for a new economic stimulus:"We are deeply concerned about our nation's economic outlook and will support measures that improve the outlook for American families. This economic crisis has its roots in the housing market and the most effective stimulus will be to reverse the cycle of foreclosure, neighborhood blight, and falling housing values. The American Homeownership Resurgence Plan is the best kind of stimulus."The Democrat-controlled Congress will likely propose additional measures. We do not believe that a national crisis should be taken as a license for wasteful spending or earmarked projects. Each new proposal must pass on the grounds that it is timely, effective in supporting business sales and job creation, and consistent with long-term fiscal discipline. "In the past, raising taxes and cutting off international trade have only served to make hard economic times worse. We oppose harmful attempts to just 'spread the wealth.' Our job-creating economic plan is the best path for the economy and includes the types of policies that the Congress should consider."
FAIR NOTICE
As usual, yard signs in West Virginia supporting GOP candidates are being swiped. As evidenced by this sign, at least one voter somehwere in the country has settled on an effective warning to those who would take yard signs off of his property.
