Please watch and share this video link to the Thursday March 23rd Senate Committee of the Whole, where the debate on Senate Bill 1324 took place. As a lifelong member of Arizona’s Democratic Party, which is traditionally known for fully believing in open government, it appears that the party is struggling to understand the benefits of this bill. The video is 57 minutes long, and Senator Ken Bennett does an excellent job of explaining the bill. Despite the Democrats repeatedly arguing with the same misinformed points, Senator Ken Bennett responded with civility and facts. Watch the video to learn more about “Ballot Images: Verifying the Results Are True.” AZ Senate Debate #SB1324 on:
As a party that traditionally believes in open government, they appear to be terrified of releasing more information for fear that it will be abused and misused. However, their inability to see the benefits of transparency in this case is a tragedy unto itself. Presently, the public has to trust election officials when they state that there were no problems, and that the election results are accurate. The traditional hand-count audit, touted by election officials, is not statistically significant and is fatally flawed due to being severely out of date. In contrast, SB1324 would make ballot images and Cast Vote Records publicly available so anyone can verify the results for themselves. These records are anonymous but are the source documents for the election that can truly verify results. When everyone has access to accurate information, false election claims cannot stick.
These two short videos make the point better than we can write in this report on why ballot images are so important, and why they may be the most persuasive evidence one can present to verify election results:
CLOSE ELECTIONS – CONVINCING THE LOSER:
SEE THE VOTE – FIGHT DISINFORMATION:
Democrats are allowing fear to stand in the way of reason. It is clear from many of their comments that they do not understand the power of the ballot images and Cast Vote Records to convince everyone, including the loser of an election, that the winner actually won, and the loser actually lost. Anyone who views these records should be convinced. And if the losers are grifters and refuse to stand down, their followers will be convinced when the truth hits them in the face.
One of the things that has worried Democrats is that this bill was introduced by Republicans, which has set off alarm bells and fears of being sabotaged. However, Senator Ken Bennett, former Arizona Secretary of State, is the bill’s sponsor. When he was SOS, Bennett was known for reaching across the aisle for bipartisan solutions. He is operating the same way as a Senator. Bennett and his transparency team (mostly democrats) believes that SB1324 will help achieve the teams’ goal of transparent, trackable, and publicly verified elections in the state. But Democrats, blinded by fear, are paranoid that this bill is just some kind of Republican trick, which it is not. Former Rep. Ted Downing PhD calls this” the big lie killer.”
Unfortunately, some Democratic Groups, such as Jenny Guzman from “Common Cause Arizona” and Alex Gulotta from “All Voting is Local,” express a belief that making these records public will facilitate chaos. Here is our thoughtful reply:
Arizona Election Transparency Bills Shine Sunlight On Voting Process, Not Voters
We attempted to reach out to both groups regarding the bill but have not received any response. However, I recently received a call from a representative of Creosote Partners, a public relations lobbying firm that represents Jenny Guzman. The caller identified herself as a “professional lobbyist” and we briefly discussed the matter before she abruptly hung up the phone.
If presenting the facts and advocating for transparency is considered crossing a line, then I stand guilty for defending the truth. Transparency is essential to maintaining trust in our democracy, and without it, our democracy will wither away in darkness.
It is through honest and open communication that we can hope to achieve the kind of transparent, accountable government that our democracy depends on.
I again appeal to both Jenny Guzman and Alex Gulotta and ask for a zoom to meet with our team of distinguished fellow Democrats. Here is the link to the revised bill with a letter and our team members list.
Democrats should not let fear stand in the way of reason. The public release of these records will calm political turmoil in the state, as stated by Democratic Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, who is an enthusiastic supporter of the bill. Senator Bennett, the bill’s sponsor, is committed to achieving transparent, trackable, and publicly verified elections in the state.
Please watch and learn about: “Ballot Images: Verifying the Results Are True.” Yavapai DEMOCRATS Third Thursday ZOOM – Guest John Brakey – AUDIT USA, Transparency is the currency of trust:
Hope, Peace, and democracy
John Brakey