Robert the Bruce said...
I posted this on the A-C blog too:
We should all take a minute and catch our collective breaths. We have been saying on this blog and others that the MorMac regime has been trying to circumvent the political process with back-room deals and running roughshod over the process. Then, when a defeated councillor tries to use the process that we all agreed is all that is holy, we get upset that he is spending tax dollars – whatever that amount happens to be.
You can’t have it both ways. Democracy costs. Be it money in this case or lives in the cases of revolution, but it costs something.
Granger had his opportunity to get a recount. I applaude the fact that he was able to get it. You all know that I am not a fan of his, but he used the process. A process we all agree is what we want.
Forget the cost, that is “the cost of doing business” and let’s move on.
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It bears repeating. A Councillor has a right to request a re-count.
Council has authority to grant or refuse.
When the decision to grant is made, Council is responsible for the expenditure.
Regulations about elections are a work in progress. because of technology.
When ballots were hand counted, there were many possibilities for error.
There was a time when a tick instead of a cross was a reason to reject a ballot There was a requirement the mark had to be entirely within the circle.
The rules led to the possibility of "disputed" ballots.
As recently as 2003, a recount was automatic if the variance in votes was within a certain range.
Once a recount resulted in a transfer of 17 votes from one candidate to another. It meant a difference of thirty-four votes and the losing candidate became the winner.
I can see a time when recounts will prove non productive to the consistent extent, the opportunity to request a recount will be removed from the legislation.
Only one thing is certain, if you think you know for sure what the regulations are at all times, you are riding for a fall.
Elections Officers are the ones who need to be up-to-date at all times. Their's is is a serious responsibility. They are bound by the law. If they make a mistake, there are penalties. Interference with the authority of the Elections Officer is an offence. He is accountable under the law.
We are done with the re-count. But I think we have awakened the sleeping giant in Aurora.
Thursday 18 November 2010
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1 comment:
RTB:
You are absolutely right. Any candidate has the right to ask for a recount and if the law allows for it, it should always be granted. Period. I take no issue with that. Maybe the law needs to be changed to make it automatic within a specific margin. That’s fine to. I also think it might be a good idea for the Ministry of Municipal Affairs & Housing to establish an across the board process, either all municipalities use electronic machines for voting and recounts or it’s all done by hand. I really don’t care, as long as I get to vote and it gets counted.
What I do care about is any decision regarding an election being left up to the candidates running in it or a council like ours. What went on at the last meeting was shameful and disgusting. Evelyn called it right when she said the whole thing was orchestrated. No elections officer should have to sit there and take the abuse that John Leach was treated to that night. And voters sure as hell don’t have to account to politicians for how they voted. Questioning the entire process after the fact, putting the clerk in the hot seat, then trying to insult, browbeat and itimidate him into doing it their way. Respect? There was none; not for him, not for us, and not for democracy.
I am supposed to accept with grace that Cllr. Granger suddenly cares for democracy and process? Please forgive me if I find that pill a little to bitter to swallow. Rising above the urge to poke some fun at one of the people that voted to deny ME and US, our democratic right to vote for our council representation and in favour of appointment, has proven to difficult for me to resist. I have not shown myself in the best light, I’ll admit that. My friend, there is much that I can forgive, plenty more I’d like to forget. But this ain’t it. Definately not.
Best regards,
Luckywife
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