Vote Early, Vote Often: A Tale of Election Fraud?

Yes, this page is still under construction!!!

I've been asked the question by a large number of people -- especially those who know me -- to tell the story of what happened, so yes I'm finally working on this page. The problem is that I'm trying to resume work as a Business Systems Analyst and Web Software Designer, where essentially I get paid by the word. That doesn't leave much time for secondary personal pursuits, especially pages like this. I promise that I am working on this site, and expect to complete it during Spring 2009. For now, please be patient while I find time to sit and write without interruption. (I'm working on this while my oil is being changed!) For now, you'll get it as I write it, typos and all. So read on, if you will.

Why write on this topic?

One good question to ask is why I should write about this. In fact, I'm often asked if I wouldn't just like to forget all about this. My answer is two-fold: first, first, I write to correct some of the false "facts" floating around; secondly, to quote the words of Judge William W. Brash III: this isses affect us all. If this is an issue that cuts to the core of our democracy, we should discuss it -- frequently, and in multiple forums. If this is a key right, we should protect it. But more on that later.

Some background on the case

The GOP frequently asserts that little effort is made to prosecute election cases, in their view, due to political reasons. In my case, I made the prosecution issue simple for the District Attorney's office by telling the truth from the first, rather than claiming my constitutional right to silence. While that might not have been the best choice, it was the one I made, and it was one consistent with my general approach to life.

As such, my case is viewed as... well... wierd. I wasn't a crusader trying to make a point. I'm certainly not ignorant of the system, or unintelligent. I wasn't someone with a political axe to grind. I wasn't motivated to see a particular political change happen and felt the system needed to be pushed. I am not a troublemaker or thrill-seeker, just out to mess with the system for personal gratification.

On the contrary, I believe in our electoral system. I voted in the majority of prior elections (only once each!) since high-school and tried to educate myself before each election on the issues and candidates. I tended to be independent in my voting; I'd vote for the candidate that I felt was the best choice, rather than selecting along party lines. I generally tended to be conservative in my selections, so in that election I voted for a Republican incumbent for state senate and voted against the Democratic incumbent for governor (Yes, I know, there goes my one chance for a pardon!), but the pattern was based on issues and abilities, more than party. I don't believe any of our party choices hold a monopoly on the right views or the best candidates.

And my case raised eyebrows because, as defenses go, mine really stunk. If you wanted to make up a better one, any third-grader could have come up with a more plausible story. My problem was that I felt this compunction to stick to the truth, as stupid as it sounded. Trust me: if I wanted to make up a story, this is not the one I would have constructed. "My dog ate my ballot" would have been an improvement.

The facts

So, let's start with a few of the facts in the case, some of which have been "confused" in the media.

(Sorry, my oil is finished, but I'll be back to write more later!)