Speech excerpts from Saturday's rally
Courtesy of Beckerman, excerpts from the speech given by John Bonifaz, the founder, and general counsel, of the National Voting Rights Institute at the Fight for Democracy rally on Saturday, December 4...
In a democracy, votes must count and every citizen’s vote must be properly counted. We are here today to fight for our right to vote. We are here today to fight for the United States Constitution. We are here today to fight for the promise of democracy.
Our clients, David Cobb and Michael Badnarik, have demanded a full recount of all of the votes cast in Ohio for President in the 2004 election. They are standing up for all of us to help ensure a proper counting of the votes and to protect the integrity of our electoral process. We at the National Voting Rights Institute are proud to represent them, along with voters across the state and Common Cause/Ohio in support of the recount.
But certain election officials are standing in our way.
Under Ohio state law, candidates Cobb and Badnarik are entitled to seek a recount provided that they post the necessary bonds to help pay for it. People throughout this state and this nation have contributed the required $113,000 for the posting of the bonds. Candidates Cobb and Badnarik have a right to this recount. We, as a people, have a right to this recount.
But certain election officials are standing in our way.
Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell is actively engaged in thwarting the recount law. He is doing everything in his power to deny our clients from having a meaningful and timely recount. We stand here today on December the 4th, a full 32 days after the November 2nd election, and Mr. Blackwell has yet to certify the statewide results of this election. Thirty-two days – no certification. The Ohio recount law states that candidates shall file their requests for a recount within five days after the Secretary certifies the statewide results. Mr. Blackwell knows that, which is why he is delaying his certification until this Monday, December 6. On December 7, his office says he will be sending out certificates to the presidential electors for their casting of the votes at the Electoral College on December 13. These dates are created by federal statute. Mr. Blackwell knows that. He is intentionally allowing no time for a recount to occur before he sends out the certificates to the presidential electors on December 7 and before the Electoral College meets on December 13. Mr. Blackwell, who also serves as chair of the Bush-Cheney campaign in Ohio, is doing everything he can to push through a slate of electors based on an untested, initial count of the vote.
He must be stopped. The federal judiciary has sadly refused to intervene. The federal courts recognize that the candidates have a right to a recount. We will have our recount. But while the courts will not expedite this recount process, we have a message today for Mr. Blackwell:
In the name of democracy, in the name of the right to vote, in the name of the Constitution, let the recount process proceed to its completion before you send the certificates to the presidential electors. Let the recount process proceed to its completion before the Electoral College meets. Let the recount process proceed to its completion prior to the casting of Ohio’s Electoral College votes.
Posted at 10:06 pm by Renee_in_Ohio
Ohio Counts
