EDITOR:

After reading the 80 page Board of Canvassers Handbook, I was reminded of an old ad campaign, “It’s so easy, even a Caveman [Yooper] can do it.” On page 18 of the handbook, it states “the Boards exist to check the mathematical consistency of election records.” It has always been about the numbers.

Three contests, three sets of candidates, three jurisdictions, three sets of voters and three sets of identical odds. That is for every vote for the loser, there were 2.64 votes for the winner, and 2.645 to 1, in contests 1 and 3. That statistical anomaly prompted the request for a hand count to compare with the machine count. That request was emphatically denied.

Since the aberration effected all districts, the request was not unreasonable. Claiming “Willful Neglect of Duty”, doesn’t cut it in my opinion. We were checking the mathematical consistency and found it just a little “too” consistent. It would have taken one or two days tops to prove coincidence or not. I stand by my refusal to certify based on the boards denial of a hand count.

Our signature is our only leverage on the board. As board members, we have no authority to “investigate” the election. The odds were generated by the data recorded in the election so I was unable to give it a thumbs up.

After my one day in the hot seat, I’m convinced now more than ever, we need more eyes on the process not less.

LeeAnne Oman

Delta County Board of

Canvasser, Alternate

Secretary, Delta Co.

Republican Committee