The Ohio Recount is moving forward!

Nov. 28, 2004 -
    Here are updates on:
1. Volunteering opportunities
2. Our financial situation
3. A timetable of what's to come and what's already happened

1. Mobilizing Thousands of Volunteers
    We'll be mobilizing thousands of volunteers in December to observe the hand recount in all 88 counties in Ohio. A recount without Cobb-Badnarik volunteer observers providing truly independent oversight of the process will not provide meaningful feedback on the problems or do much to improve public confidence in the integrity of the voting system. Please join us by completing our volunteer form at www.votecobb.org

2. Giving Thanks for Democracy
    Thanks to the generosity of thousands of small donors coast-to-coast, the Green Party's Cobb/LaMarche campaign has already raised $250,000 toward the costs of the recount. $113,600 has gone out the door already to pay the State of Ohio's recount filing fee.
    We have been raising the money in phases, since we didn't want to raise more until we were certain the minimum needed was raised. Now that we have completed our grassroots operation planning, we estimate
that the recount will cost an additional $88,000 for training and staffing costs (approximately $1000 needed in each of the 88 Ohio counties).
    If you value democracy, and the attention that this recount will bring to the many ways that voting processes need to be improved in this country, then please make a donation today by going to www.votecobb.org

3. Ohio Recount Timeline
    Past and future dates related to the recount process:
11/10 Green Party Presidential candidate David Cobb announces on KPFK radio that he and Michael Badnarik of the Libertarian Party are considering filing for a recount in Ohio. Hundreds of emails pour in, encouraging the Green Party to take a stand. 11/11 The Cobb/LaMarche campaign confirms their intention to file for a recount in a public statement and press release, and requests donations to pay for the effort.
11/15 Common Cause, the National Voting Rights Institute, Demos, the Fannie Lou Hamer Project and People for the American Way Foundation issue a joint statement in support of the Cobb-Badnarik demand for an
Ohio recount.
11/15 The Cobb/LaMarche campaign meets initial fundraising goal of $150,000 (including the $113,600 recount fee needed to file).
11/17 Attorneys on behalf of David Cobb and Michael Badnarik deliver letters to each Ohio county election director, asking them to prepare for the recount.
11/18 Congressman Dennis Kucinich publicly endorses recount efforts. 11/19 Cobb-Badnarik representatives deliver bond to guarantee $113,600 recount fee to each of the 88 Ohio county election directors. 11/20 Two Cobb/LaMarche campaign staff relocate to Columbus, Ohio to work with volunteers on the ground.
11/21 Cobb/LaMarche team meets second fundraising goal, reaching $250,000 in eleven days.
11/21 Cobb-Badnarik lawyers file a request for an expedited recount in federal district court in Toledo, Ohio, so that a "meaningful recount" can take place prior to the December 7th "safe harbor" certification and December 13th meeting of Ohio presidential electors.
11/22 The Delaware County, Ohio Board of Elections seeks a temporary restraining order to block Green and Libertarian presidential candidates from forcing a recount of the Nov. 2 election results prior to December 1st. Their request is granted by the judge.
11/22 Federal district court judge denies Cobb-Badnarik request to expedite recount, saying that Cobb and Badnarik do not face irreparable harm" if the recount doesn't take place until after the December 7 date to certify presidential electors, since they will not have any electors anyway.
11/24 Over 1,000 volunteers have already signed up to help on website at http://www.votecobb.org but many more still needed.
11/28 The Reverend Jesse Jackson to hold rally in support of recount and other efforts to investigate and litigate voting irregularities in Ohio. 12/01 Date by which most Ohio counties will have certified their initial vote totals.
12/04 Citizen electoral reform groups organize a rally to "Investigate all 88."
12/06 Date that Ohio Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell currently (as of 11/25) says he will finally certify the vote. Then, as detailed in Ohio Election law procedures, Cobb and Badnarik will formally request a recount and Secretary Blackwell will notify other candidates of their right to have observers at the recount. Under law, other candidates must have 5 days of notice before the recount can start.
12/07 The "safe harbor" date by which presidential electors in all 50 states must be conclusively determined.
12/11 Earliest possible start date for the Ohio recount, based on recent judicial ruling and Blackwell's current timeline for certification of the state vote.
12/13 Date by which, pursuant to Constitutional mandates, Electoral College electors must meet to cast their votes. This applies to Ohio and all other states.

Again, we thank you sincerely for your interest and participation in the Ohio Recount. With your help, democracy will be served.

Please be sure to volunteer, donate, and circulate
this to your friends and family!

~Lynn Serpe
Campaign Manager
Cobb/LaMarche

Volunteers and donors should visit the campaign website,
http://www.votecobb.org, for more information.

The website for the national Green Party is http://www.gp.org.

The Ohio Green Party Website is http://www.ohiogreens.org.

To see an investigative report by Greg Palast, author of The Best Democracy Money Can Buy, which asserts that the Ohio vote was improperly decided, see http://www.tompaine.com/articles/kerry_won.php.

For an article detailing a dozen ways in which the Ohio vote was potentially manipulated, see http://www.freepress.org/departments/display/19/2004/810.

(From Nov. 19) OHIO RECOUNT MUST START NOW

(From Nov. 16) RECOUNT IN OHIO A SURE THING

(From Nov. 11) GREEN & LIBERTARIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES TO DEMAND OHIO RECOUNT