Election Results Continue To Puzzle

Last updated Friday, November 10, 2006 11:02 PM CST in News

By Michelle Burhenn
The Morning News

    BENTONVILLE -- Unprecedented voter turnout in Benton County has again called into question the results of Tuesday's general election.

    After the Election Commission reviewed the votes Wednesday, the turnout jumped from 49 percent to 83 percent. That catapulted Benton County to the top of the turnout heap, according to totals from Secretary of State's Web site on Friday. The county with the second-highest turnout was Madison County with 64 percent.

    The observance of Veterans Day on Friday made it impossible to get many answers from county officials.

    Robbyn Tumey, former chairwoman of the Benton County Democratic Party, went to the Election Commission office on Friday to speak with Jim McCarthy, election coordinator. Tumey worked on the media plan for Cheryl Murphy, District 2 justice of the peace candidate. Revised results released Thursday showed Murphy had lost her race to Republican Frank Winscott. Tuesday's results first showed she was winning and later showed she would face a runoff with Winscott.

    Tumey said she is prepared to file an injunction to stop the Election Commission from certifying the election. She said she and McCarthy looked over the results together. Some, such as a Rogers precinct with more than 100 percent voter turnout, alarmed both of them. He then gathered the voting system's computer disks and flash drives and told her he was headed to the Election Systems & Software office in Little Rock, she said.

    Election Systems & Software has a statewide contract to provide voting machines.

    Calls to Jim McCarthy's cell phone went straight to voicemail, which was full. An employee who answered the telephone at the Election Systems & Software office in Little Rock said he could not speak to the media. Election Systems & Software media representatives in Omaha, Neb., where the company is based, said they were not aware of the situation and could not comment.

    Murphy said the unprecedented turnout caused her and some others to question the latest election results.

    In her district alone, a 92 percent turnout was recorded, she said. That just doesn't happen in District 2, which is rural, divided by Beaver Lake and generally has a lower turnout, she said.

    "So to jump to an 80 percent turnout, I question," she said. "I heavily question."

    A close analysis of Thursday's results show in two races, more people voted in a mayoral race than live in the town, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's July 2005 estimates. In Gateway, a town of 122 people, 199 votes were cast in an uncontested mayoral race. In the Pea Ridge, 3,997 votes were cast in a contested mayor's race for the city of 3,344 people.

    Lynn Chinn, Democratic election commissioner, said he was not able to reach McCarthy on Friday and had not heard of the latest apparent problems with the election results.

    A turnout of more than 80 percent is exceptional even for a hotly contest presidential election, said Andrew Dowdle, assistant professor of political science at University of Arkansas. He pointed out Idaho made news this week with 63 percent voter turnout in a midterm election.

    "An understatement is that (83 percent) is a little high in terms of a midterm election," said Dowdle, who specializes in elections and campaigns. "Eighty-three percent is mathematically possible, but again, just something that would be kind of an eye-popping figure."

    The commission decided to review the election results after noticing problems, such as precincts with unusually low turnout.

    The commission announced the results of its review of results Thursday afternoon, after working until 3 a.m. that morning to fix a computer problem that threw out tabulated votes as new votes were entered on election night. McCarthy said Thursday the Election Commission's attempt to share real-time results with partygoers at the Clarion Hotel in Bentonville caused the glitch.

    The retabulated results changed the outcome of eight contests, mostly in tight races or races with few votes cast.

    The revised Thursday report said 79,331 of 95,900 registered voters, or 83 percent, cast ballots. The original results released on election night said 47,134 voters, or 49 percent, cast ballots.

    Early voting is scheduled to start Monday for the Nov. 28 runoff.

    Reader Comments (31 comment(s))


    The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsibility of their authors. The Morning News does not review comments before their publication, nor do we guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by our comment policy. If you see a comment that violates our policy, please notify the web editor.

    Steve Harrelson wrote on Nov 11, 2006 2:34 AM:

    " Did this change affect the House District 89 race between Jim House and Doug Kuntz? "

    Cynical wrote on Nov 11, 2006 6:22 AM:

    " Hmmm...and in the most Republican county in the state! Not a single Democratic win even in the non-close races. How many Floridians do we have here? "

    Look Around wrote on Nov 11, 2006 7:11 AM:

    " After the Florida debacule the Democrat's wanted the electronic voting machine's to get rid of the archaic punch cards. Then of course once we get the electronic voting machines and the election commision has problems, which is understandable (I mean how has not purchased some eletronic device and not had problems, I still have to set the time on my parents VCR). The fact is that some one lost, and someone won. The commision took thier time to certify because they new they had problems, if you took the initial result and celebrated then too bad for you later when the certified results came out. "

    Miracle or Mistake? wrote on Nov 11, 2006 7:36 AM:

    " "It is not likely or believable that 83% of registered voters in Benton County came out to vote on Tuesday. This is more than double the national average and almost double the turnout in neighboring Washington County. I DO NOT believe it and hope the unlikeliness of such a possiblity is addressed by a full investigation and re-count. When the results of a race change from one candidate having 16 more votes - then changes to that candidate having 30 fewer votes, a re-count only makes sense so that fairness can be assured and voter confidence restored - especially when we know there were problems with the vote count. For the turnout in Benton County to be the highest in the nation would be a miracle. I bet it's a mistake! " "

    You watch wrote on Nov 11, 2006 9:26 AM:

    " You watch they will say that the counters counted each vote twice, which will not change the results in the percent of who got the most votes. If X received 200 votes and Y received 100 votes then X really received 100 votes and Y 50. Your read it here first. The primary needs to be reviewed also; something is fishy in Benton County. Question why when elections go smoothly Mary Lou is available but when things go south she points the finger at the election commission? "

    To the press wrote on Nov 11, 2006 9:29 AM:

    " Now is the time to do your job! Both this election and the primary needs investigated. Both elections this year has had problems.... "

    Robin Green wrote on Nov 11, 2006 9:35 AM:

    " Robin Green as the county chief investigator why are you not involved in this? Somebody needs to file a complaint with the Arkansas Attorney General Office, and then things will happen…… "

    Something smells funny... wrote on Nov 11, 2006 11:00 AM:

    " And it doesn't smell good, either... "

    Contact Attorney Generals Office wrote on Nov 11, 2006 11:19 AM:

    " I just did this and I encourage every reader who feels the voting in Benton County has a problem. Go to this web page of Arkansas Attorney Generals Office (http://www.ag.state.ar.us/index_high.htm) on the top you will see a envelope, click on it and it will take you to a contact page. Click on via email and a form will pop up. Voice your feelings and send. I bet if the AG’s Office gets several of these the State Police will be in town soon, and they should be. "

    Asinine wrote on Nov 11, 2006 12:07 PM:

    " Only democrats would cry and complain when they lose a contest. How many Republicans have contested the count? Asa? Holt? DeLay? NO!!!! I can understand that there were more votes than the population of a town but those are the only situations needing to be verified. "

    Beaver Lake wrote on Nov 11, 2006 1:48 PM:

    " How embarrassing for Benton County! Our country has only been holding elections for over 200 years, and we can't even get a local election right! We really have the nerve to complain to other countries about their problems with elections when we can't get our own right. Maybe we should get fourth graders to count the votes, they could probably do a better job than our election officials. "

    Surprising?? wrote on Nov 11, 2006 2:28 PM:

    " What else? When you sit back and look at this situation, does it really surprise you anymore? The question is, can anything that comes out be trusted? Look at all that has happened locally in the last 6 months You have the mother-daughter team at the driver's license office; Michelle Crane (x-director planning board) taking money from developers; the planning board deciding on developments on which way the wind blows; the coroner taking drugs from the terminally ill, and then she is allowed to fire the one's that reported her; and then this election thing! Again, what else? "

    Look Around wrote on Nov 11, 2006 2:39 PM:

    " How many of you who are complaining have ran for office, how many of you worked at the various voting place? How many of you attend your local city council, planning, JP meetings, chamber of commerce meetings. Voting problems you wanted electronic voting and now you got it and you not happy, and because your not happy "Its someone elses fault." Whine whine whine, how about a cheese with that whine. You want to change something then YOU get out and work for it, dont cry here, or make your petty phone calls. "

    To 'look around': wrote on Nov 11, 2006 2:51 PM:

    " I have done all of those things that you are talking about and I am still complaining. Something that looks as obviously incorrect as this deserves to have a second look by an impartial third party. If there is a problem, it needs to be fixed. If there is not a problem, then that's OK, too. Our election process allows for reviews like this...so perhaps YOU should stop whining yourself. "

    also to Look Around wrote on Nov 11, 2006 4:16 PM:

    " Make those Petty Phone calls?? You have obviously not ever practiced what you preach...Those "Petty Phone Calls" are how alot of us keep in touch with our elected officials. As a business owner, and a Registered Voter, I want my opinion counted, and since my Tax Dollars are paying salaries and for these elections, I want my vote counted for the person I intended it to be for. MY CHOICE COUNTS, I WILL STAND UP AND BE HEARD. And to "Truth Hurts" 1st, wrong blog...Check the Illegal story line. 2nd. As an American, I am entitled certain freedoms, some of those are the right to free speech which you just used, and since I have defended this country in a previous war and fought for your rights, as an American, your comments, while idiotic and pointless, are legal and protected. Why are you in THIS country again? (Freedom, Liberty?) "

    Joyce McCloy, Coordinator NC Verified Voting wrote on Nov 11, 2006 8:14 PM:

    " Confidence in the outcome of the elections is key to our democracy/republic. This argument must not be made partisan. It is true, that forces in the DEM party pushed electronic voting, but not all. It is also true that two of the major voting machine companies have major connections to the republican party. Elections should be based on a paper ballot system. If computers are involved, then the optical scan systems are best - they are similiar to the scanners that count kids SAT scores. A lady in Arkansas fought to get rid of touchscreens, and she fought for paper ballots for every vote, and the Secretary of State had some of your larger counties grandfathered in. I recommend some non partisan websites for all of you, Dem, GOP, LIB, Green, or other: www.votetrustusa.org and www.verifiedvoting.org and http://accurate-voting.org/ I agree that the machines themselves, as well as the memory cards should be impounded and examined by an independent expert, not one in the voting machine industry. Doug Jones or David Jefferson come to mind. "

    Look Around wrote on Nov 11, 2006 8:21 PM:

    " Paper or Plastic, I like paper too. I think the push for the plastic (electronic) is really based on the theory of "Faster more accurate" results. I hear all the time about offices going paperless, but think about it when you have a really complex document do you perfer to read it on the computer screen or to hold it in your hand? I agree that the election is for the people, and with that thought in mind spend a bit of time counting, use paper. "

    Joyce McCloy wrote on Nov 11, 2006 9:05 PM:

    " I forgot to mention - often the only way to get a recount is if one of the candidates contests the election results. If you want the election audited, or recounted, or investigated, you just about have to lawyer up. Often it is the Attorney General's job to defend the state, which is your SOS and also your elections offices. So, I am not sure the Atty Gen is the right office to complain to. It takes the candidates, and lawyers, and a check of the poll books, the machine tapes, etc. "

    To Look Around wrote on Nov 11, 2006 9:30 PM:

    " I also would ask "look around" if you have been at meetings concerning our county issues? I personally have been at a lot of meetings and have every right to complain. No! I am not happy because our county government needs major changes!!!! But before you spout off to others, step back and take a good look. Maybe some first grade students can help assist and count these votes! Technology is pretty scary, isn't it? "

    To Joyce McCloy wrote on Nov 12, 2006 6:32 AM:

    " How is getting ripped of by a voting machine any different then getting ripped of by the act of consumer fraud. The AG’s Office will investigate fraud on the citizens of Arkansas so why would fraud of “vote” of the citizen be any different, please advise. "

    Sorry Off wrote on Nov 12, 2006 6:33 AM:

    " Off above "

    Any lawyer wrote on Nov 12, 2006 8:29 AM:

    " Any attorney interested in taking this on? I know of a willing canidate! "

    Jeff Hawkins wrote on Nov 12, 2006 10:32 AM:

    " More votes cast in Gateway, than there are people in the city limits? That assertion is incorrect. Gateway had a large annexation in 2005, and now has a Census Bureau certified 2000 population, based on their January 1, 2006 boundaries, of 494. "

    To "to asinine" wrote on Nov 12, 2006 10:57 AM:

    " When a person has to resort to name calling it usually means their argument carries no merit. How long have you been a democrat? There is a BIG difference in seeking out the truth and crying foul when you don't get your way. Heaven forbid we should have a good voter turnout. The results shall speak for themselves. "

    Joyce McCloy, NC Verified Voting wrote on Nov 12, 2006 11:26 AM:

    " There could very well be something wrong with the machines! Sarasota Florida has a gigantic undervote in a contest, and voting system experts and attorneys want to impound the machines and examine the programming. See this website - www.voteraction.org The attorney, Lowell Finely has waged a battle against unverifiable voting, especially on touchscreens, and done a great job. This is not a partisan issue. Democrats should jump at the chance to get scrutinize the voting machines. Now that Republicans too see the disadvantage of non verified voting, perhaps they will be of assistance. A very good democrat fought against paperless machines in Arkansas years ago, not just for Dems, for for everyone. Now is not the time to drop the ball. Elections are an accounting process, but only 13 states even have "partial" audits, which actually are only spot checks. Even banks have not gotten rid of the paper. I work in a banking operations center that has a $250,000 optical scanner that scans approx 30,000 checks, loan slips etc twice to get the images in the system and process the data. Even the Fed can't get rid of the paper. The voting machines' electronic ballots are programmed each election, and mistakes are made. On computer, 1 mistake can go a long ways. "

    Carol wrote on Nov 12, 2006 12:54 PM:

    " If you would all really like to know about "the machines" and what's wrong with them, plus information about a lot more problems in a lot of other races across the country, go to www.bradblog.com. It is the BEST election information website bar none. Incidentally, the REAL experts (and they are also computer experts) in election reform are now FIRMLY behind hand-counted paper ballots--NO machines! "

    Mark wrote on Nov 12, 2006 2:54 PM:

    " Ridiculous, We voted here in Bentonville. Paper ballots. The electronic voting machine, which looked like one of those game machines you seen in the dark corner of a convenience store, was unplugged and standing in a corner. I held my hand over the locked red ballot box and told an election official "this I trust. I'm sure was glad we're voting on paper ballots." The gracious official told me he was a computer whiz of some kind and the voting machines were foolproof. Yeah, right.... Ha ha ha ha I couldn't believe that guy let those words fall out of his mouth. Software glitches? ? ? Human error ???? etc, etc, etc, babble, blabble, babble. Now we will never know for sure what happened because of those "foolproof election machines." Anything mechanical or electronic can be manipulated, screw up, tampered with, or break down. But somewhere, there is "my" hard copy paper ballot that can be re-counted and confirmed. Can all those electronic machine votes be confirmed? Nope. A simple solution to a simple problem. Paper ballots. "

    Larry Woodall wrote on Nov 12, 2006 6:24 PM:

    " "He who casts the vote decides nothing; he who counts the vote decides everything" "

    docholliday wrote on Nov 12, 2006 6:28 PM:

    " To Look Around, Joyce McCloy is correct. Many Democrats pushed for voting reform after the problems and resolution in Florida in 2000. However, the Republican dominated Congress wrote and passed the Help America Vote Act of 2002. In my opinion, the wording of the act encourages election officials (Secretary of State in Arkansas) to adopt and purchase electronic voting machines from Diebold, ES&S (with management with known Republican ties), Sequoia, AccuPoll, and Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC)instead of adding more optical ballot reading machine. This is acchieved by setting the deadlines for Federal funding to favor adopting and purchasing electronic voting machines. The bias is from the influence of electronic voting machine lobbyists and the well-documented desire of the Republicans of the 109th Congress to swing work to their contributors and friends. I do not believe there is a conspiracy to set up a voting system succeptible to manipulation. However, I do take issue with the characterization that Democrats pushed electronic voting machines, the push was for reform of the existing system that caused problems in Florida in 2000. I am also worried that unethical politicians and political operatives may take advantage of the system. Unethical political methods have snowballed since 1972 and CREEP and seem to have gained acceptance as the norm with some political operatives. "

    Noconfidence wrote on Nov 15, 2006 7:04 PM:

    " Excuse me , I can't stop laughing at the Arkansas system of elections .How ignorant can it be to let so few pull the wool over the eyes of so many .Don't this happen at every election in ? Hum , something is wrong don't you think . Wake up . "

    Trust Me wrote on Nov 22, 2006 3:30 PM:

    " OMAHA, Neb., Nov. 22 /PRNewswire/ (SPOOF) -- Election Systems & Software, Inc. (ES&S), leading provider of voting technology, sponsors a competition to encourage new insights into voting enhancements. Amanda Brown, spokeswoman for ES&S, said ES&S is working with scientists at the University of Illinois to provide results through quantum computation, which provides a result to an election without ever running their vote counting algorithm. By combining ES&S’s quantum computation counting algorithm and quantum interrogation, scientists have found an exotic way of determining an election result – without ever counting the votes! Using a quantum computer, a research team led by physicist Saul Tu Kwick has presented a demonstration of "counterfactual computation," inferring information about an answer, even though the computer did not run. "It seems absolutely bizarre that counterfactual computation – using information that is counter to what must have actually happened – could find an answer without running the quantum vote counting computer," said Kwick, a professor of Engineering and Physics at Illinois. "But the nature of quantum interrogation makes this amazing feat possible." "In a sense, it is the possibility that the vote counting algorithm could run which prevents the vote counting algorithm from running," Kwick said. "To my mind, quantum mechanics doesn't get any more mysterious than this." Amanda Brown said tests at ES&S show “this technique of determining an election result without counting the votes makes substantially fewer errors than our attempts at actually trying to count the votes." "


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