Group wants voting records

A public interest voting watchdog group has ruffled some feathers in Alabama with open record requests for information about problems in the June 3 party primaries.

BlackBoxVoting.org, in a June 13 letter to county voting officials, asked for records of election law violations and reports of problems with computerized or electronic voting machines.

Secretary of State Beth Chapman told registrars, who do not manage elections in Alabama, that Attorney General Troy King has advised not to respond to requests for information about voting fraud since information may be part of a criminal investigation, according to Chapman spokeswoman Emily Thompson.

King is investigating a relatively high number of absentee ballots being cast in three counties during the June 3 party primaries.

BlackBoxVoting.org Director Bev Harris said news reports of possible absentee ballot voter fraud piqued her interest in Alabama's voting.

Public record requests were sent to county probate judges and county circuit clerks, two of the three officials in charge of elections.

Sheriffs, the third voting official in each county, didn't get the letters but the county boards of voter registration did.

Harris said the group believes elections using electronic voting machines can be stolen and she advocates hand-counting of election results.

"We believe hand-counting keeps people honest," she said. "It's foolish to trust" technology that can be manipulated or is subject to error.

Harris said voters need more "quality control."

"Our emphasis first and foremost is to get people interested in the process again," Harris said in a telephone interview.

Harris' requests contain a reminder that Alabama courts have awarded court costs and attorney fees to parties "that have successfully sued for access to public information," but she said that wasn't a threat.

The requests from BlackBoxVoting.org also say there are criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for failing to comply with a lawful request.

Harry Butler, chairman of the Etowah County Board of Registrars, said he believes he was threatened with a lawsuit even though his office doesn't control elections.

He said he told Black Box that he has no information requested, but he got a response saying his letter was unresponsive.

"I answered with a letter that I thought was in a good way," Butler said. "Then I get a faxed reply that took me to task about the answer was unresponsive."

He said Harris' reply was also copied to Etowah County District Attorney Jimmie Harp. Harp said he turned the request over to Sheriff Todd Entrekin, one of the three voting officials in Etowah County.

Lauderdale County Probate Judge Dewey Mitchell said he responded. "We are not aware of and do not have in our possession any records requested in items," his letter stated.

Colbert County Circuit Clerk Nancy Hearn said she didn't recall getting a letter requesting records.

Harris said the nonpartisan BlackBoxVoting.org is supported by donations from private individuals and doesn't take government or special interest money.

Dana Beyerle can be reached at (334) 264-6605.