Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy

Analysis:

This article is essentially a vehicle for “official voices” on the topic of the US prison in Guantanamo bay. The only voices presented in the article are a US Military officer, Vice-President Cheney, and White House spokesperson Scott McClellan. All the quotes in the article represent one viewpoint, which is that the prison at Guantanamo is both necessary and appropriate. In the Grand Rapids Press version of the article, no effort is made to challenge or verify the claims made. In the original full length version of the article, several other voices are presented, only one of which, a lawyer, is critical of the prison. Again, no attempt is made by the reporter to challenge or verify any of the included quotes. This despite their being a number of highly publicized studies available from human rights groups on the treatment of prisoners at Guantamano.

Story:

Gitmo prisoners start to talk, general says

WASHINGTON — The commander of the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, said in testimony before a House panel Wednesday that interrogators were beginning to glean valuable intelligence from some detainees held there. The White House, meanwhile, shrugged off critics and stood by its decision not to shutter the facility.

Army Brig. Gen. Jay Hood, commander of the task force running the prison, told members of the House Armed Services Committee that prisoners at the island compound could still provide crucial information to military investigators.

“In some cases detainees under our control for as long as two years — who had resisted talking to us and refused to communicate any relevant information — have, over the last six months, elected to begin to talk with us about where they were and what their activities were,” Hood said.

“And I think that in fact, time is on our side as we convince them that we are determined and that we will not falter in our efforts.”

Amid growing criticism of the way the 518 inmates, mostly detained in Afghanistan, have been treated, the Pentagon allowed members of the Armed Services Committee to visit the site over the weekend, gaining some support from lawmakers.

Following calls to shut the prison, the Pentagon has joined the Bush administration in defending Guantanamo. Last week, Vice President Dick Cheney said in a televised interview that the prisoners were “living in the tropics” with “everything they could possibly want.”

President Bush has not veered from his determination to keep the prison open, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.

Text from the original article ommitted from the Grand Rapids Press version:

“There has been no better alternative that has been brought to our attention for dealing with these detainees,” McClellan said.

Armed Services Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter (R-El Cajon) said his visit to Guantanamo and comments by Hood had laid to rest what he considered “irresponsible allegations” of mistreatment.

“It’s obvious that we have to keep this facility, and we’ve got to keep it open,” Hunter said.

Hood denied allegations of systematic abuse of detainees at the prison. Other military officials dismissed allegations in a recent New England Journal of Medicine article that medical personnel were using detainees’ medical records to help point out vulnerabilities to interrogators. Asked if the article was accurate, Navy Cmdr. Cary Ostergaard, head of the prison hospital, replied, “Absolutely, 100% no, sir.”

Human rights and legal groups have been consistently critical of the prison. But their criticism was absent from Wednesday’s hearing, called to brief lawmakers on prison operations.

Del. Madeleine Z. Bordallo (D-Guam), a nonvoting representative to Congress, dubbed it “more of a resort” than a prison. Rep. Silvestre Reyes (D-Texas) called it “the only place in Cuba where religious freedom is allowed.” Rep. Joel Hefley (R-Colo.) wondered whether the prison was too accommodating.

Bordallo went on the Pentagon trip, but Reyes and Hefley did not. Reyes said he had been to Guantanamo before.

“No one wants to be in prison, but if you’re going to be in prison, this sounds like the one to be in,” Hefley said. “I’m sitting here thinking, ‘Give me a break.’ “

Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.) told reporters who met him on his return from Guantanamo that “the reports of abuse at Guantanamo Bay are absolutely false; I saw no abuse, nor did I see any signs of abuse.”

The committee heard from a panel of military officers, but the declined to hear from a witness the Democrats had sought. Thomas B. Wilner, a Washington lawyer who represents detainees, said he would have contradicted the descriptions by Hood and other military officials.

“That ain’t no resort,” Wilner said. “It’s a horrible place.” Wilner called the congressional visit a “public relations stunt.”

After the hearing, Rep. Ellen O. Tauscher (D-Walnut Creek) lamented what she called “almost a farcical attitude” by Republicans “to kind of belittle the allegations and to whitewash” charges of prisoner mistreatment.

“Clearly, Guantanamo is an international lightning rod, and frankly a recruiting poster for some deadly jihadists, and I would think we’d have to be smart enough to realize we have to deal with it in a transparent way, and have these allegations answered and clear the record,” Tauscher said.

Analysis:

The piece was about two and half minutes long and focused primarily on the rally as a statement of opposition against proposition 2, the so called “gay marriage amendment” that was voted into state law last year. The segment shows images of gay and lesbian couples exchanging vows on the steps of the state capital and three participants of the rally are interviewed. One of the people interviewed was a rally organizer, while the other was a man in a costume, prompting the reporter to say “they gathered to show support, some in costume, all with one goal in mind” despite the fact that this is the only person visibly wearing a costume is the various crowd shots. The number of participants is rather unclear since in the beginning of the piece the Anchor says that “dozens” of people participated while the reporter states seconds later that “hundreds” of people were present. A small group of counter protestors were also reported on, with one man being interviewed.

While the story does an adequate job of describing the message of this particular rally, no context is provided as to greater significance of Pride day historically throughout the country. This particular date of June 25 was not chosen arbitrarily for this rally, but has been, ever since 1969, the date of annual gay pride parades. These events commemorate the Stonewall uprising of 1969, when gay and transgender bar patrons resisted a police raid in New York, an event many consider to be the beginning of the gay rights movement. So while people were rallying in Lansing, celebrations of gay pride were happening across the country is cities such as New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Seattle and Atlanta, as well as numerous smaller cities. This historical context of the Lansing Pride rally were completely left out of the News 8 story as were the fact that this was a national event, not just a local one.

Story:

Newsreader – Dozens of gay and lesbian couples took part in a commitment ceremony at the state capitol today, It was a response to the passing of proposal two last November defining marriage in Michigan as that between one man and one woman. Twenty four hour news 8’s Dan Bewley is back from Lansing where he met with organizers of today’s event.

Reporter – Rachel, some say that the ceremony is believed to be the first of its kind in Michigan as hundreds of gay and lesbian couples rally on the capital steps. Some to speak out for their civil rights, others to commit their lives to each other.

Minister – You may kiss your partner.

Reporter – Barbara Allen and Heidi Smith joined others from across the state, publicly committing to one another. This step the highlight of the day for Michigan’s gay and lesbian couples.

Sarah Mieras – We’re here to educate the straight community about who the lesbian and gay community really is.

Reporter – At the base of the state capital they gathered, showing support. Some in costume, all with one goal in mind.

Derek Ward – We’re celebrating pride; we’re celebrating ourselves being gay and our rights.

Reporter – The spark for the rally actually ignited last fall, an amendment to the states constitution officially banning gay marriage was passed by Michigan voters. Organizers say that ban regulates the gay and lesbian communities to second class citizens. Others disagree, protestors with signs both outside the rally and flying high above.

Brian Harris – They want special rights; they want rights people don’t have. Protection for certain kinds of sexual behavior, and we don’t have that and we shouldn’t have it at all.

Reporter – Those on the steps say the protesters are missing the point. Everyone they say should be able to choose who they share there life with.

Sarah Mieras – it’s about the right to have someone else’s pension who you have lived with for twenty years, it’s about the right to be their legal power of attorney, there are all these things over a thousand benefits of marriage.

Minister – And pledge our love and commitment to our life partners.

Reporter – And that brings us back to the ceremony. Those involved admit that it is not a legal marriage, just a public sign, complete with certificate, that two people are committed to each other.

Rally participant – I know it takes more than a piece of paper, it definitely takes love but we already have that so you know we want the right to able to be together forever.

Reporter – Organizers say they are going to keep fighting for gay and lesbian rights in Michigan and they say they hope one day to get proposal 2 reversed.

Total Time: 2 minutes, 24 seconds

Analysis:

This story appears to be the result of a media release from the Ottawa County Health Department on an e-coli testing of a beach in Ottawa County. WXMI then gets a sound-bite and runs a little b-roll of the beach front and that is it.

Viewers hear a comment from a representative of the Health Department, but no elaboration or qualification is provided by the news reader, even though one of the results mentioned is death. Some details on e-coli may be useful for viewers as well as other resources about beach closings due to contamination.

Story:

WXMI News reader – There was a no swim advisory for a beach in Ottawa County tonight due to high levels of e-coli. The Rosy Mound recreation area in Grand Haven Township is off limits until it gets the all clear. The County Health Department took a sample on Tuesday and said that e-coli levels were more than 71 units higher than health standards. No fines or tickets for swimmers while it’s closed but the Health Department says it is a serious risk.

Ottawa County Health Department – If you were to ingest water or anything for that matter with e-coli, significant intestinal issues can arise and it can result in death.

WXMI News reader – The Health Department thinks dredging nearby or rain could have caused the problem. They hope the beach can be re-opened this weekend.

Total Time: 42 seconds

Analysis:

This is a mid-length story about anchor Juliet Dragos visiting the set of the play Peter Pan during its run in Grand Rapids. The story highlights Juliet learning to “fly” just like actress Cathy Rigby, fulfilling what Dragos describes as a “lifelong dream”.

Lacking any real news content, this story serves as a form of self promotion. By focusing on the personality of the news anchor, the story serves to build a relationship between the audience and the anchor in order to create a sort of “brand loyalty” to Channel 13 News. Viewers should be aware of such marketing tactics in the news and ask themselves how this serves the public interest.

Story:

WZZM Newsreader- Peter Pan is soaring through Grand Rapids until the end of the week. Tony Award nominee and Olympic gymnast Cathy Rigby stars as Peter Pan. And before hitting the stage tonight she gave me a few pointers on how to fly like Tinkerbell.

B-roll: This’ll go on like a backpack…

Cathy Rigby – It’s very physical, it’s not exactly gymnastics cause you’re…you’re limited in some of the things you can do, um, and it takes three of us to really make it work. It feels nice and snug, yes?

Newsreader – Yes, it feels very snug, hahaha!

Cathy Rigby – Just have fun and enjoy the ride and try to face the audience at all times. Dragos: Hahaha!

Randy Rees – These ropes here are the horizontal movement, move back and forth, and this is the rope that makes her go up and down.

Newsreader – I can’t imagine that this little thing is gonna hold me. Technician: It’s actually one sixteenth of an inch and it’s steel aircraft cable.

Rigby – Think lovely wonderful thoughts…

Newsreader – Weeeeeeeeee! This is soo much fun, I’ve always wanted to fly.

Rigby- Look at you, you’re a natural! Isn’t that great? Yah, get to the audience…

Paul Rubin – I’m actually probably pulling twice her weight, cause I’m pulling her against her momentum.

Newsreader – All my life I’ve always wanted to know what it was like to be like a bird, or like Mary Poppins, or like Peter Pan, or Tinkerbell, and just to be able to do it and feel that is such an exhilarating feeling.

Rigby – I thought you did a magnificent…I think she should get a 10.

Dragos – It was fabulous, exhilarating. Wonderful experience, thank you so much!

Newsreader – And you can see Peter Pan through Sunday at DeVos Performance Hall, tickets are on sale at the box office or through Ticketmaster.

Total Time: 1 minute, 45 seconds

Analysis:

This piece is essentially sensationalized trivia rather than hard news. A critical reader might ask themselves what does it matter what snack foods Saddam likes to eat. No information is presented in this article that would give the reader a clearer understanding of any of the issues pertaining to Saddam Hussein’s role as dictator, his incarceration, or his impending trial. The same day that the Grand Rapids Press ran this AP article, International news sources were running stories about Saddam’s upcoming trial and accusations of the US concealing information about the deposed president that could be damaging to the US and other countries. This was the topic of articles in international sources such as BBC and Al-Jazeera, as well as an Associated Press article which the GR Press chose not to run.

Story:

Saddam Chatty, germ-phobic, guards say
By Richard Pyle
Associated Press
NEW YORK — Saddam Hussein loves Doritos, hates Froot Loops, admires former U.S. president Ronald Reagan, thinks Bill Clinton was “okay” and considers both presidents Bush as “no good.” He talks a lot, worries about germs and insists he is still president of Iraq.

Those and other details of the deposed Iraqi leader’s life while in U.S. military custody appear in the July issue of GQ magazine, based on interviews with five Pennsylvania National Guard members who went to Iraq to fight in 2003 and instead were assigned to Mr. Hussein’s guard contingent for nearly 10 months.

The magazine, which reached newsstands yesterday, says the GIs could not tell their families what they were doing, and signed pledges not to reveal the location or other details of the U.S.-run compound where Mr. Hussein was a “high-value detainee,” awaiting trial by Iraqi authorities for mass killings and other crimes.

However, the five soldiers told GQ correspondent Lisa DePaulo of their personal interactions with Mr. Hussein, saying he spoke with them in rough English, was interested in their lives and even invited them back to Iraq when he returns to power.

A Pentagon spokesman had no comment on the article.

The GIs recalled that Mr. Hussein had harsh words for the Bushes, each of whom went to war against him.

Specialist Sean O’Shea, then 19, of Minooka, Pa., said Mr. Hussein later mellowed in that view. “Toward the end he was saying that he doesn’t hold any hard feelings and he just wanted to talk to [George W.] Bush, to make friends with him,” he told the magazine.

The soldiers also said Mr. Hussein is a “clean freak” who washes after shaking hands and uses diaper wipes to clean meal trays, utensils and the table before eating. “He had germophobia or whatever you call it,” Spec. Dawson said.

The article says Mr. Hussein preferred Raisin Bran Crunch for breakfast, telling Spec. O’Shea, “no Froot Loops.”

The magazine says Mr. Hussein told his guards that when the Americans invaded Iraq in March of 2003, he “tried to flee in a taxicab as the tanks were rolling in,” and U.S. planes struck the palace he was trying to reach instead of the one he was in. “Then he started laughing,” Cpl. Reese recalled. “He goes, ‘America, they dumb. They bomb wrong palace.’ ”

Text from the original article ommitted from the Grand Rapids Press version:

“He’d always tell us he was still the president. That’s what he thinks, 100 per cent,” Specialist Jesse Dawson, 25, of Berwick, Pa., told the author.

“The Bush father, son, no good,” Corporal Jonathan (Paco) Reese, 22, of Millville, Pa., quoted Mr. Hussein as saying.

Spec. Dawson quoted Mr. Hussein as saying, “He knows I have nothing, no mass weapons. He knows he’ll never find them.”

The story says that once, when Mr. Hussein fell during his twice-a-week shower, “panic ensued. No one wanted him to be hurt while being guarded by Americans.” Mr. Hussein was friendly toward his young guards and sometimes offered fatherly advice.

When Spec. O’Shea told him he wasn’t married, Mr. Hussein “started telling me what to do,” recalled the soldier. “He was like, ‘You gotta find a good woman. Not too smart, not too dumb. Not too old, not too young. One that can cook and clean.’ ”

Then he smiled, made what Spec. O’Shea interpreted as a “spanking” gesture, laughed and went back to doing his laundry in the sink.

For a time his favourite snack was Cheetos, and when that ran out, Mr. Hussein would “get grumpy,” the story says. One day, guards substituted Doritos corn chips, and Mr. Hussein forgot about Cheetos. “He’d eat a family-size bag of Doritos in 10 minutes,” Spec. Dawson said.

Mr. Hussein also said his capture in an underground hideout on Dec. 18, 2003, resulted from betrayal by the only man who knew where he was, and had been paid to keep the secret. “He was really mad about that,” Spec. Dawson said. “He compared himself to Jesus, how Judas told on Jesus. He was like, ‘That’s how it was for me.’ If his Judas never said anything, nobody ever would have found him, he said.”

Mr. Hussein never indicated whether he knew his statue in Baghdad had been toppled on April 9, 2003. He insisted that everything he did, including the 1990 invasion of Kuwait, was for the good of his people, the article said.

Analysis:

This story announces that Brunswick is eliminating 115 production jobs in Muskegon and sending them to Mexico. However, the story is framed to minimize any negative attention on the company. First, the reporter shows kids at a bowling alley benefiting from a Brunswick program. The first perspective viewers hear is from the company President who says “They are good employees who have made good quality bowling balls for us for years, and we feel bad about the fact that they will be losing their jobs.” This clearly is intended to make the company president look sympathetic towards the plight of workers.

After more commentary from the reporter, they finally talk to a worker who basically says this will be bad for the community, but the reporter then ends the story by saying that the worker went back to college to get a degree, as if to say the job lose thing is working itself out in the end anyway.

Unfortunately, no real reasons are provided other than from the company president who said Brunswick wasn’t profitable for years. There is no elaboration or verification of the reason given for job loss. Go to the Brunswick corporate website and you will find that from 2002-2004 there was a steady increase in sales and earnings over the past 2 years. It took us 2 minutes to verify the claims made by the company president, which according to their website were not true. Viewers might ask themselves what a difference it could make if reporters actually investigated allegations, such as the one from Brunswick, and what that means for the community. One last thing to mention is that much of the factory flight is due to trade policies. So, even though Mexico is mentioned as the destination of the jobs, channel 17 does not look at how NAFTA played a role in this, and they don’t tell workers and their families who have lost jobs that there are some provisions for workers who lose manufacturing jobs to NAFTA.

Story:

WXMI 17 News reader – After nearly 100 years of making bowling balls in Muskegon the Brunswick corporation is moving production to Mexico.

Reporter – Michelle, 115 production workers, many who worked for the company for decades will be fazed out in one to two years. The news is devastating to many who say Brunswick is a major part of the community. Brunswick is doing a lot to help these kids score big. A kids bumper league at Northway Lanes in Muskegon, where the only place the ball can go, is to the pin. But just up the street there are no bumpers protecting Brunswick workers.

Factory President – They are good employees who have made good quality bowling balls for us for years, and we feel bad about the fact that they will be losing their jobs.

Reporter – One hundred and fifteen manufacturing jobs cut, production moving to Reynosa, Mexico. The President of Brunswick Bowling and Billiards says that the company hasn’t been profitable in years. Executives spent the last 12 months trying to avoid job cuts, but not everyone will be let go. Breathing a sigh of relief tonight are some 275 sales and supporter staffers in this building. Stopping production across the street should save the company about 5-6 million dollars a year, but what actually happens to the building once it is empty is anyone’s guess. The news doesn’t surprise Eugene Thompson, he heard rumors of job cuts a year ago. His mother worked for Brunswick. He was hired 13 years ago.

Worker – It is a sad thing. Like I say, a lot of people have kids and things. So, it is not just me, so it will affect this whole community.

Reporter – Back at Northway lanes, parents are concerned, concerned about the future of the city where they are raising their kids.

Parent – We are turning into a tourist attraction and our employment rate is just going down. It is a shame and it is going to hurt us.

Reporter – The transition will cost Brunswick $7 million over the next 2 years and as for Eugene he told us he went back to college when he heard the plant might close. He graduates next year with a mechanical engineering degree. He just hopes that the other 114 unemployed workers will have other options.

Total Time – 2 minutes and 16 seconds

Analysis:

This story is a typical example of the health related stories seen on the local news in that the focus is on a product rather than an issue. Often, stories are aired promoting a new medication. Undoubtedly, this is in many cases due to the PR efforts of the drug manufacturers. While it is impossible to say conclusively that this particular story is a video news release, it is quite likely that the footage in this story was provided by the drug manufacturer as part of a PR effort.

This story does not give the viewer any information explaining why childhood obesity is on the rise. There is no information about unhealthy eating and exercise habits among youth. Nor is any information given as to the role of commercial media in promoting junk food and high fat/high calorie food to youth.

Story:

WOOD TV 8 News reader – Our children are becoming so overweight and the problem is so widespread that weight loss drugs are now being approved for teenagers. The latest research shows that this drug orlistat or xenical does indeed help prevent the worsening of obesity in children. More than a quarter of patients taking orlistat had at least a 5% decrease in body mass index. This expert said he saw a doubling of weight loss over just that one year period.

Expert/Doctor – I have used it in selected patients and some of them have gotten a lot of help from it. Sometimes it is just enough to give them a boost to feel their getting a result that helps them stay with the diet and exercise plan.

WOOD TV 8 News reader – The problem is that the drug is not indicated for longer than one year’s use so that after the drug is stopped the tendency is that the patient regains the weight.

Total Time – 49 seconds

Analysis:

Viewers should ask themselves what news value this story has. The story is trivial and it is from Omaha, well outside the viewing area of WXMI 17. It has no relevance to West Michigan.

Story:

WZZM 13 News reader – A Nebraska man doesn’t want to be lonely anymore, so he is advertising for a wife everywhere he can. No he goes by just his first name Harold. He is a truck driver and he says he doesn’t meet many women. On days when he is not driving he stands on an Omaha street corner with a sign for his website – will work for a wife.org. He also printed up business cards in order to billboard to help meet his mate.

Truck driver – Well I’d love to be married by Christmas if you want the truth on it, but I don’t know that that will happen.

Guy driving by – I got a former sister-in-law he might be interested in.

WZZM 13 News reader – Harold expects his wife search could end up costing him about $10,000. If you want to know more about him go to the news links section of our website wzzm13.com. If he gets married it is going to cost him a lot more than $10,000.

Total Time – 54 seconds

Analysis:

This story reports on two seperate topic, the debate on extending the Patriot Act, and a new Justice Department report on pre-9-11 intelligence. The story on the Justice Department report is sandwiched inside this story on the Patriot act. By putting one story within the other, the impression is created that these two topics are related. While both topics are related in a general sence, there is no direct relationship between them. Patriot Act was passed after the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001. The Justice Dept. report is about FBI investigations prior to Sept. 11, 2001. By combining these two stories, the reporter is potentially biasing the story as a viewer may make the assumption that the Patriot Act is somehow validated by the Justice Department report.

Story:

WXMI Newsreader – President Bush says renewing the Patriot Act is critical to preventing another terror attack in this country. He’s demanding that Congress immediately renew controversial parts of the law that are set to expire in September. Fox 17’s Grant Rampy is live in Washington with more…Grant?

Reporter – Evening, Mike. This is day two of the President’s push to not only extend but also expand the Patriot Act. The Whitehouse faces stiff opposition from civil libertarians, Democrats, and even a few Republicans.

President Bush stopping by the center where the FBI, CIA, and Homeland Security Department now coordinate anti-terror efforts. As he makes the case that, thanks to the Patriot Act, those agencies are getting better intelligence, he’s also warning lawmakers; the country will be hurt if they don’t extend the law.

Bush – That doesn’t make any sense to me…that if something’s working, why should it expire? We need to renew the Patriot Act.

Reporter – Critics argue the Patriot Act steps on citizen’s rights. They’re concerned that police can conduct secret searches. Investigators can find out what people are reading at the library and the Feds can hold terror suspects indefinitely.

Chip Pitts – The mere existence of such measures has a chilling effect on fundamental freedoms including speech and association, religion and belief, privacy, due process, and equal protection.

James Zogby – It creates a groundswell of support for those who would do harm to our country.

Reporter – As lawmakers heatedly debate the Patriot Act’s pros and cons, the justice department’s looking back at 9/11. A new report concludes the FBI missed five opportunities to stop two of the hijackers. Questions persist about whether the bureau has gotten any better about listening to its backroom analysts.

Andrew Zajac – I think it mainly just takes the bureau to task for not being aggressive enough in following leads pertaining to Al Qaeda… pertaining to terrorism.

Reporter – As for the hearing that was held earlier today, it abruptly ended when Republican members stormed out. They say much of the testimony presented by the law’s critics is irrelevant. Live of Capitol Hill, Grant Rampy, Fox 17 News at 10.

Total time: 2 minutes, 12 seconds

Analysis:

The article is about a task force of election officials put together by a non-profit group called The Election Center. This Task force put out a series of recommendations for reforming elections in the US. Chief among these recommendations is the creation of centralized “voting centers”, that is, a central locale where all the residents in a county could vote without having to worry about what precinct they are from. The article also states that the authors of the report “focus much of their attention on voters and poll workers rather than voting machines — the subject of so much debate ever since the 2000 presidential stalemate in Florida.” This was the only mention in the Grand Rapids Press version of the article about electronic voting machines.

Considering how contentious the issue of electronic voting machines where in the last election, it is reasonable to wonder why the issue of electronic voting machines was not further explored in this report. One possible explanation is that the Election Center has, according to the online source Source Watch received funding from Sequoia Voting Systems Inc., Election systems and Software inc, and Diebold Election systems, all companies that manufacture electronic voting machines. This fact about some of the Election Center’s funding is important contextual information and yet it was not included in the Grand Rapids Press version of this article. To give the reporter his due credit, the original, full version of this article does mention that the Election Center has received contributions from voting machine manufacturers. It also notes the Election Center report pointedly downplaying a widespread push for paper receipts from touch screen voting systems, a position also held by the electronic voting machine manufacturers. This information about the Election Center’s connection of voting machine manufacturers is important in that it brings into question the objectivity of this Election Center report and yet the Grand Rapids press choose to edit it out of the story before printing it.

Story:

It’s all about the voter: elections task force says
By Robert Tanner
AP National Writer

Published: Jun 07, 2005 12:54 AM EST

(AP) – The nation’s election administrators say it’s time to restructure elections to reflect the way Americans live, scrapping neighborhood precincts and Election Day for large, customer-oriented “vote centers” where people could cast ballots over a period of weeks.

In a new, sweeping report, state and local officials focus much of their attention on voters and poll workers rather than voting machines — the subject of so much debate ever since the 2000 presidential stalemate in Florida.

“We are looking forward, we are looking at ways to make elections better,” said Dawn Williams, who oversees voting in Marshall County, Iowa. She co-chaired a task force of officials and former officials from 15 states that was set up by the Houston-based Election Center.

So-called “universal vote centers,” introduced two years ago on a limited basis in Colorado, could end some of the biggest flaws in the way Americans vote if widely implemented, administrators said.

Such centers eliminate confusion over where to vote, since everyone in a county can vote at any center; reduce lines by allowing for more equipment and staff at fewer locations; and prevent mistakes by better marshaling well-trained election officials along with day workers.

“It addresses what happened in Florida in 2000 better than the (federal) Help America Vote Act” — the law Congress passed to fix elections three years ago, said Larimer County (Colorado) Clerk Scott Doyle, who came up with the idea. “It’s the way America lives. Why shouldn’t America vote that way?”

Doyle sought and won a change in state law that allowed him to replace 143 precincts with 20 vote centers. Larger facilities — hotel ballrooms and state fairgrounds — allow easier access and parking for voters, and more efficient concentration of resources for administrators.

“There’s an opportunity here to better meet our voters’ needs and save millions of dollars,” Doyle said. With vote centers, the county can save several hundred thousand dollars by buying fewer handicapped-accessible voting machines, since the new federal law requires one at each polling location, he said.

The report, to be officially released Tuesday, also backs a growing trend toward voting over days and weeks, rather than just Election Day.

At least 30 states have already broadened their balloting rules, expanding absentee voting to “no excuse” voting — so anyone who wants to vote absentee is allowed.

The task force also suggested that states:

—Prohibit companies that register new voters from getting paid by the number of registrants and punish those that misuse the process.

—Assist felons by providing them with a faster way to regain voting rights, where allowed, and better election information.

—Share voter registration information between states to avoid duplication and safeguard against fraud.

Text from the original article ommitted from the Grand Rapids Press version:

In some places, residents can also vote early, in person, as much as a month ahead of Election Day.

“We’ve got to look at how we make this better for voters at all points. Don’t try to fix the symptoms but say, `What is causing the problem and how do we fix them?'” said Doug Lewis, executive director of the Election Center, which trains election officials.

“Here are some concepts. They’re not revolutionary concepts, they’re evolutionary,” Lewis said.

The report also urges state legislators to consider an “independently verifiable” record of each voter’s ballot from ATM-style touchscreen voting machines that could be electronic, video or some other form — pointedly downplaying a widespread push for paper receipts from touchscreens.

Elections administrators have taken a fair share of blame for the nation’s electoral troubles in recent years.

Many critics say local and state officials have been complacent or worse about threats to the electoral system, including worries that people seeking to manipulate elections could hack into computerized machines and rig the results.

The faults in the machines are real and can’t be ignored, said Avi Rubin, a Johns Hopkins University computer science professor. Election officials should heed the computer science community’s warnings, he said.

The Election Center has come in for criticism after reports that the nonprofit, nonpartisan group accepts contributions from voting machine manufacturers. Two members of the task force are former local election administrators who’ve formed their own election-related businesses.

The report is one of several continuing efforts to improve elections as disputes continue over 2004 results.

Most prominent among those was the 129-vote victory of Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire, who won office on the third count of the votes. A state judge upheld her victory Monday.