CLOSE ELECTIONS AND REFORM
TEACHER HANDOUT LESSON 3
This lesson will: 1. Acquaint students with some of the recent reforms our state has implemented in the election system. 2. Engage students in critical thinking about the intent, impact, and desirability of these changes. 3. Invite students to propose reforms of their own and communicate their ideas to elected officials. Materials One handout for each student Optional Inside Washington Elections DVD available for free from the Office of the Secretary of State, Elections Division. Here are three stories for you to share with your class that bring attention to the complexities of election administration. Story One Following a mandatory recount in the race for a Washington State House seat in the 24th Legislative District in 1990, only three votes separated the two contenders, Anne Goos and Evan Jones. The state certified the election, giving the race to Jones. During the mandatory recount, and then again subsequent to the certification, troubling elements surfaced. One of three counties in the district had never preinspected the voted ballots. (Such inspection allows authorities to catch accurate ballots the machines might otherwise reject.) Random ballots were discovered that had never been counted at all. Because the race had already been certified, the Legislature determined that Jones would remain the winner and the three-vote difference would hold in his favor. However, the incident prompted the creation of a Washington program that serves as a national model for certification and training of local election officials. Story Two In 2000, Bush won the Florida Presidential Election by a margin of 1784 votes. After the mandatory machine recount Bush was ahead by 327 votes. Gore then requested a manual recount. Before that recount could be 100% finished, the certification deadline arrived and the election was certified for Bush. The subsequent United States Supreme Court case, Bush v. Gore ruled 5-4 to stop the manual recounts on the grounds that the recounts violated Fourteenth Amendment rights to Due Process and Equal Protection. In summary, the
ca033c78-ab90-49a3-a2d8-f7d4dfc4307c.doc 2008 - 1 Office of the Secretary of State www.vote.wa.gov
Supreme Court ordered the recount stopped because there were no statewide vote counting standards. Story Three The Washington State Gubernatorial race in 2004 was first won by Dino Rossi by 261 votes. After a mandatory machine recount, Rossi was ahead by 42, and the Secretary of State certified the election. The Democratic party then requested and agreed to pay for a hand recount. This recount, which revealed 1678 illegal votes, left Gregorie in the lead by 133. Because the hand recount overturned the outcome of the election, Gregorie’s party received a refund of their money. In addition to hearing about these stories, students need to understand that their adult leaders are learning from mistakes by making improvements in the election system. They need to realize that steps are being taken to enhance the reliability and credibility of voting results. Below is a list of some of the reforms that have occurred in the Washington State election system. Inside Washington Elections presents election reforms and is suitable for student viewing. Reform List 1. The Legislature paved the way for creation of a statewide voter registration database that will prevent fraud. This database is complete and functioning properly. 2. New rules have been adopted to: Help determine voter intent on questionable ballots Determine how ballots must be counted when voter intent is questioned Eliminate punch card voting Determine how damaged absentee ballots must be handled statewide Determine how special ballots and physically damaged ballots must be handled 3. The State Legislature has adopted election reform measures including the Voting Integrity Act, which: Ensures that people registering to vote are fully aware of the requirement to be a U.S. citizen Provides a vehicle for voters to report fraud Gives prosecutors authority to take action against offenders. There are many possible answers to the questions below, so be sure to support your opinions with the sound/factual arguments. 1. Which changes do you think are a response to the problems that occurred in the 2000 Presidential Election? 2. What potential voting fraud might be prevented by reform number one? 3. Why is number two trying to establish pre-determined procedures?
ca033c78-ab90-49a3-a2d8-f7d4dfc4307c.doc 2008 - 2 Office of the Secretary of State www.vote.wa.gov
4. What abuse is the Voting Integrity Act designed to prevent? 5. How could the database mentioned in reform number one help prevent fraud? How could it concurrently provide a service to voters? 6. Which reform do you think is most critical to improve the system's credibility; i.e., to ensure voter confidence in the system? 7. Which reform do you think is most likely to improve the system's reliability; i.e., to ensure that the results of an election accurately reflect the will of the voters? Bonus question: Is there a reform you would like to see enacted that is not listed in the reforms listed above? What is it? Why do you think we need it? Would it be aimed at the credibility or the reliability of the election system? Don't stop here! Maybe your idea needs to be transmitted to your state officials? You might consider writing a letter expressing your views on election reforms to the Secretary of State (www.secstate.wa.gov), your district's State Legislators (www.leg.wa.gov), or U.S. Congressional member (you can link from the Secretary of State site). This could be in support or opposition to one of those listed on your activity sheet or it could be your original suggestion for a reform not listed. ANSWERS 1. All three. 2. It would allow a centralized information database in case there is a question about a voter's qualification. 3. Reform number two would help avoid inconsistencies that could occur between counties. 4. Voting by unqualified persons. 5. A central source of voter registration information could aid a voter who recently moved to a new precinct but never informed the county Elections Division. 6. Student answers will vary. 7. Student answers will vary.
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Office of the Secretary of State www.vote.wa.gov