Laying to Rest Fraudulent Fraud Rumors Damaging to Election Integrity

Why NC 08 is not the same as FL 13 even though the iVotronic was used in both races I am writing about the rumors still swirling around the internet saying that the wrong winners were picked in both the FL 13's congressional race and the NC 08 congressional race. The rumor claims that both use the same voting machine, and that both had the same rate of high undervotes. The rumors began with this article Wrong Winner Chosen Twice by Same Voting Machine Monday, 15 January 2007, 4:42 pm. By Michael Collins http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00173.htm Collins article uses incorrect data for NC 08. The article states: "In both districts, the iVotronic touch screen voting machines produced undervote rates at or above 15%." In fact, the precinct-level figures support an undervote rate of about 4% in NC-08. The main problem with the analysis was the inclusion of all absentee, curbside, and provisional ballots in the turnout figures for all three House districts in Mecklenburg. Even though most of the district was in NC-12, all the NC-12 (and NC-09) absentee, etc. ballots were included in the NC-08 turnout. Here are articles that disagree with Collins' data "Time to Doff the Tin Foil Hats - No Suspicious Undervote in Meck/NC-08" by The Southern Dem (excerpt) * The Southern Dem's diary :: :: Now, conspiracy theories are cropping up surrounding the 4.2% Mecklenburg County undervote in the 8th Congressional race between Larry Kissell and Robin Hayes. It started with an email going around with lots of THESE and quite a few of !!!!!!! these. According to the author of the email the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections was negligent in its execution of the 3% eye-hand recount performed on November 29, 2006. The author also claims that there is an unprecedented undervote in Mecklenburg County for the 8th Congressional District race. The undervote rate of 4.2% is unprecedented in this race for Mecklenburg County, however, in light of circumstances surrounding November's elections, it is not surprising, shocking or significant and all the CAPITAL LETTERS and !!!!! exclamation points!!!! in the world will not change that fact... more at the link, please take time to read the comments, especially by HudsonValleyMark. The comments help to further address the data. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/1/18/111023/378#c5 Southern Dem also posted the same diary at a blog community that is made up of folks from North Carolina. http://www.bluenc.com/time-to-doff-the-tin-foil-hats-no-suspicious-undervote-in-meck-nc-08 Please read the comments at the Blue NC Blog, they are by other folks from North Carolina, including people who worked on campaigns or otherwise are connected in that area. "Comparing FL 13 to NC 08 Congressional Races" I would like to supply information not covered by the "Scoop" article about the NC 08 and FL 13 contests http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x464643 This is my effort to address the Scoop Article, but I am not a statistician, so read what the commenters have to say, especially the person with screen name On The Other Hand. Find out what really happened. NC's iVotronic is a different version than Sarasota FL. We have the 9.1.2.0 NASED/EAC #N-2-02-22-22-004 we have the VVPAT as well, and a 15 inch screen http://www.ncvoter.net/downloads/ess_equipmentpricing.pdf Sarasota Florida has Model iVotronic version 1.0 w/ firmware version 8.0.1.2, http://election.dos.state.fl.us/votemeth/systems/syssearch1.asp (you have to select county from drop down list) Incorrect information can discredit the election integrity community. It ultimately will be debunked when it is fact checked. Hopefully Southern Dem's blog will help to correct the rumors. We have tried to help the Jennings campaign, as we tried to help Larry Kissells campaign. Now all we can do is issue corrections as many places as possible.