LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Wednesday, August 15, 2012 4:31 pm

Since the MicroVote voting machines were purchased many years ago the following has been the procedure used for early voting:

1. At the end of each day of early voting, the FULL TEAM of poll workers along with the AOE make sure the votes on the machine equal the number of applications for ballots that day.

2. That was recorded on paper by each poll worker for their machine.

3. The start cards for the machines and the paperwork for each machine was placed in a ballot box and locked with two (2) keys.

4. One key was given to a Democrat poll worker --- one key give to a Republican poll worker.

THIS HAS NOT BEEN THE PRACTICE DURING STANLEY DOBSON’S TIME IN OFFICE. NO LOCKS WERE PLACED ON THE BALLOT BOX.

Mary Lynn Bush put that back in practice during her brief time setting up early voting for the August 2, 2012 election. When Dorinda Mankin came back, she left everything as it had been set up to finish out the early voting period. THAT WAS A GOOD MOVE.

On July 21, 2012, I approached Matt Studd about this, as well as the Nursing Home practice used during Dobson time in office. I was scheduled to help with the Nursing Home voting the following Thursday, July 26th and I thought it would be a good time to start working together to get a good understanding of procedure.

Rather than work with others, Matt chose to go on line Cannon Courier July 21 and 22 and first denied that I had talked with him and then he said I did talk with him and then he misrepresented what was said and made light of any possibility of any need for improvement. In that article Matt Studd said the security bag would be used for the Nursing Home. This can be found under Fount Bertram letter to the editor “The Election Commission Beyond Being a Joke”.

Also, refer to letter to the editor: “Non metal Ballot Boxes” for the concern for Nursing Home voting.

One more thing: I would suggest purchasing locks for the ballot box that has a key that cannot be duplicated.

This seems like a good idea if: “The fox is keeping the hen house”. And since we can’t seem to figure out who the fox is--------LET’S JUST DO THAT.

Helen Minton
Woodbury, Tn. 37190