Letter to the Editor: 2020 election issues still need to be resolved
Dear Broad + Liberty Editors,
Re: “Activists’ ballot-application challenges fall apart,” by Bradley Vasoli (11.18.2024)
Last month, I attended a hearing in the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court in Harrisburg for an appeal of Moton et al vs. Boockvar et al regarding Delaware County breaches of election law in 2020 and illegal destruction of election records in 2021. Please see this link for the audio of the hearing.
You may believe, like the defendants’ attorneys, that this issue is moot, that the 2020 election has come and gone, and that the plaintiffs are beating a dead horse. Yet, as was reiterated in the hearing endlessly, this case was never about overturning certified election results, denying the outcome of an election, or even about President-Elect Trump. This case was about the simple fact that there currently exists no way to prosecute violators of election crimes if crimes occur, and no way to overturn an election, even if it has been proven the election was manipulated against the wishes of the majority of voters. Our democratic voting process has become meaningless because it can be thwarted administratively through the judicial process, and eliminates the public’s ability to correct either fraud or unintentional errors.
For the 2020 elections, the fact that the appeal of this case is only now being heard in 2024 speaks for itself as to the length of time it takes to present evidence for an election case in a court of law, and how administrative procedures can drag on to the point where even a guilty verdict is meaningless. The entire term of office in dispute has already passed!
I was not involved in the election problems which occurred in Delaware County in 2020. However, I was aware of the use of election machines to influence elections in other countries, and seeing the anomalies in the published 2020 election data, I became concerned that our county elections might now also be influenced by outside sources.
After speaking at a number of Delaware County Council meetings to educate the public, and hopefully the council members, on the vulnerabilities of election machines to outside interference, I met others concerned about flaws in the election system at both the national and local level. This year, I began to work with the Delco Election Deep Divers, a group formed in 2022, that endeavors to make Delaware County’s elections more accurate and transparent. We monitored the 2024 election to try to safeguard against a repeat of similar 2020 and 2022 events. Regrettably, we have observed what we believe are similar issues of election maladministration, and have been unable to address these concerns through the existing legal system.
Beginning last summer, we endeavored to analyze all phases of the 2024 county election processes. This included the following: review of the voter rolls, observation of election machine HASH testing, observation of the election machine logic and accuracy testing, review of the mail-in ballot voter rolls, observation of the election day tabulation of ballots at the precincts and central counting center, observation of the provisional ballot analysis, and observation of the return board reconciliation and audit.
I was surprised, like many reading this letter might be, just how complicated and extensive the election process is, and I had renewed respect for those who, in good faith, contribute to making this process run smoothly through all of its many phases. Yet at the same time, expecting to only find issues with the machine tabulation, I was stunned to discover, without exception, multiple errors and vulnerabilities in each phase of the election process, often despite the efforts of many of the individuals involved, and suggesting that the system itself requires an overhaul. Unfortunately, the Delco Election Deep Divers have also collectively discovered significant evidence that indicates election law violations, evidence that should by rights be presented in a court of law.
To give a taste of the unnavigable judicial administrative obstacle course we must now overcome, just to get this evidence heard, I offer this example: On November 25, the presentation of the return board review was scheduled at the certification meeting of the Delaware County Board of Elections. Where is the opportunity to address PA Election Code non-compliance discovered by the return board in the election process prior to certification? Items we found in 2024 related to the return board were deemed inadmissible in the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas because they were not submitted prior to certification. As was learned in 2020, if items are not addressed prior to certification, they cannot be contested. Yet the return board presentation immediately preceded the certification by minutes. What if, for example, in this circular logistical cage, the return board had found in its review that there were twice the number of votes as compared to the number of voters? There would be no time within the legal framework to bring such evidence before a court of law!
Since we have been prevented, through procedural and administrative barriers, from presenting the bulk of our evidence through the court system, I thought to outline all of the election law violations we discovered in this letter. But after writing ten single spaced pages, with more information remaining and more information than I, familiar with the evidence, could process in a single session, I have changed my mind. I now believe it best to submit two letters each week addressing separately each phase of the Delaware County election process and the vulnerabilities and errors we discovered specific to that phase.
I hope readers might make their own determination: Do the readers believe our investigations warrant judicial action, and would they, as judges, hear our evidence and rule in our favor?
Respectfully,
Laura Lewis
Delco Election Deep Divers
Eagerly await the follow up articles!
I truly don’t see any advantage to electronic voting machines. Counting paper ballots locally with the oversight of both parties would be fast and auditable.
That relies on both parties wanting fair elections, a rare occurance.
You’re right and Trump’s and his supporters are still claiming he won the 2020 election. Along with January 6th where 108 police officers sustained injuries from peaceful protesters and Vice President Pence came with seconds of being taken hostage and lynched, had it not been for the actions of a police officer.
Wow. I can’t wait to read the subsequent letters. These procedural and administrative roadblocks are scary, at best.