I have been reading and studying State’s Attorney Joel Todd’s Report on the Pocomoke City Election in April 2009.
Wrong doings, or irregularities, were found. None were deemed to be criminal. The report put us, both the Pocomoke citizens and the Pocomoke public officials, on notice that at least one of these irregularities must to be corrected before the next election. So now is not the time to let this issue go.
No, Stephanie Burke did not win the election. Yes, the report found no criminal activity with respect to her specific complaints. However, Stephanie won on a much more important level. The need for changes in how Pocomoke conducts its elections is clear in the findings of this report. Why is it we equate coming in first with the only way of being successful. By that measure most of us would be failures most of the time.
Thanks to Stephanie pushing forward with her complaints, we now have outside confirmation that change is needed in how elections are conducted in Pocomoke. I do not believe this would have happened had Stephanie not made her complaints. Indeed, she tried to raise these issues by filing a formal letter of complaint with the town. She has yet to receive a response to this letter. The shame of it is that it took an outside party looking at these complaints for Pocomoke’s public officials to see and, hopefully, face the need for changes.
This is not the first time an outside source has had to be brought in to help Pocomoke see its problems. Maybe this time will cause us all, both citizens and public officials, to be more proactive in the future and correct things BEFORE they become bigger problems.
To be proactive, we cannot afford to discredit or disregard those that raise negative issues. Negative complaints are opportunities to make things better. Every citizen has something valuable to offer and the right to offer their opinions and suggestions, even those people we may find annoying or that we do not like. This is another place Pocomoke needs to change.
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I don't understand why a "municipality' even needs or adopts such election rules.
ReplyDeleteThey should, actually they should be required to follow the state election laws. That would take any confusion out of the elections and would curb our obvious reasons for even having the election rules we have now.
No Stephanie Burke did not win the election.
ReplyDeleteNiether did Tracy Cottman the vote was 58-58 meaning the election was a tie. This clearly shows the people who voted constitutionally want change in the city government.
The States attorney report clearly states the absentee ballots were "unconstitutional" and could be thrown out by the Board of election supervisors.
The City of Pocomoke City has not replied to the official written complaints presented PRIOR to the election.
The Pocomoke City Board of Election Supervisors has not replied to the written complaints presented PRIOR to the election.
What the heck is going on here?
Two out of the past five municipal elections have been investigated by the States Attorney's office and nothing has changed.
Things have actualy gotten worse with the open stuffing of the ballot box using absentee ballots.
Did anyone read the part of the report where one person quickly sealed a BLANK BALLOT into the envelope because they felt intimidate by having Bruce & Tracy Cottman standing there watching them vote?
Did anyone read the part where the absentee ballots were marked so the voter could be identified?
THE ELECTION WAS DECLARED UNCONSTITUTIONAL YET LEGAL BECAUSE IT DID NOT VIOLATE ANY POCOMOKE CITY LAWS!!!
Six people could have been charged with techincal violations but the States Attorney chose not to charge those six-people.
Something is seriously wrong with the way things are done in Pocomoke City elections.
EVERYTHING needs to be changed.
Alot of things are wrong at Pocomoke City Hall. Unfortunately, not one person at City Hall can see that! This is just another problem that will get 'swept under the rug.'
ReplyDeleteWhat amazes me is that an election can be declared unconstitutional but not illegal.
Everyone is throwing this "UNCONSTITUTIONAL" word around like they are constitutional experts. Nowhere in the U. S. Constitution does it guarantee "everyone" the "right" to vote, it only guarantees who you cannot deny the right to vote.
ReplyDeleteThe word "UNCONSTITUTIONAL”, did not appear in the SA report, it first appeared and was manufactured in the follow-up report that was posted on and by the "Pocomoke Tattler". The SA did allude to some practices that may have infringed on the U.S and State constitutional rights of some voters, but did not specifically rule the election "UNCONSTITUTIONAL".
This in no way means that I agree with all of the election process in Pocomoke City. Laws that govern "how" elections are held and "who" is “qualified” to vote should be made and enforced by state and local governments, using constitutional guidelines.
You know what, I personally feel betrayed by the report and so should each and every voter here in town.
ReplyDeleteI was told verbally that what was going on was 'Unconstitutional'.
Our forefathers died to ensure a PRIVATE ballot.
50 people in Pocomoke City had their ballots filled out for them. Did Tracy or Bruce also mark the ballot? We will never know. It is now a He said She said.
Do you feel comfortable knowing that City Hall knows who you voted for?
If you do, I can tell you as an American YOU SHOULD NOT!
It's time to wake up and take back our City, I cannot do it alone, I have tried, but the powers that be will do anything to keep me out.
50 people is what people are shunning, what's 50 people?
ReplyDeletewell 50 people is a great percentage of those that cast a vote. This is what needs to be realized.
Throw out the illegal absentee votes and 50 people are 1/2 of the voters, wake up people, march city hall we are being played like puppets.
I think citizens should be able to make suggestions to the town and feel that they are at least being heard. How about a town volunteer day. The town can pick a project, such as plant flowers in the park or clean up a dirty area of town, and have citizens sign up to volunteer. It would be a chance to promote getting "involved" and a chance to get together with neighbors and do something nice for the town.
ReplyDeleteThe town has bulk day already, what if they encourage people to clean up their yards or help a neighbor with theirs and submit photos to the town website showcasing this. What a great way to encourage people to lend a hand and clean up but always promote our friendly town motto when people visit the town website.