The Auditor and the Camera – a Tale of Magic Words

Spokane County – Election Integrity - Vicky Dalton interview, 06.13.22

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The Spokane County Commissioners met on June 13th for their Strategic Planning Meeting regarding a Presentation of Petition for requesting a “Comprehensive Election System Audit” within Spokane County, for the purpose of “Restoring Confidence” in our elections prepared by the Spokane County Republican Party.

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You can view the entire meeting here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwiuseBW8dw

You can also download the petition here: https://1drv.ms/b/s!AsyZJgBlP6Y0gYw226FfeFpv5hvtKQ

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As part of the petition, a 9-month investigation of the election process determined that it is impossible to ‘see’ what is occurring during the ballot counting process – no transparency. There are cameras within the ballot processing area, however, those cameras have been turned off for years.

The Petition requests that cameras should be installed and positioned so as to see (and record) the complete ballot process for the purpose of transparency and validation of the ballot counting process.

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Auditor Vicky Dalton is concerned that camera technology will violate privacy rights, believing that cameras will be able to read signatures. No evidence has been provided by Auditor Dalton identifying how this is possible. However other counties within Washington State have had cameras in their election operations for years. The Audit team remains confused as to whether or not cameras at ballot drop boxes will be adequately installed.

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In this first video cut, Auditor Vicky Dalton, speaking to the Spokane County Commissioners, states her gratitude to the GOP Committee, in particular Dennis and Tom, for addressing the need for better documentation of the ballot counting process and their request for a more thorough video recording system. (In the Commissioners official recording this is at the time stamp 1:58:44)

Video cut 1

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Then Dalton clearly states; “And so we are moving forward with cameras”, while also stating that Washington State’s camera policies will further be curtailed across the State in the near future.

Video cut 2

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Watching the full video of the meeting you can sense a bit of relief from the commissioners as they are under considerable pressure from the public to get the camera matter under control before the 2022 general election.

However, after the meeting is concluded and the parties move outside the Commissioner Chambers, Dalton takes a different position.

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Outside the conference room, Dalton is asked about the cameras; as one of the presenters, Dennis Hawxhurst states, referring to a “last meeting with you and Mary Kuney. Dalton responds “Oh, we are going to do cameras.” The question continues; Hawxhurst says, “because you guys said you are not going to do it in the operations area, we are only going to do outside security”, Dalton responds: “No, not outside security, we are going to do security, but NOT processing”.

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Hawxhurst states “OK.” Dalton says “Yea”. Hawxhurst goes on to say, “Next time we all get together we need to distinguish the difference because I think a lot of people (in the meeting) were walking out of there thinking that you guys had changed your mind; in that, you are going to have cameras in there say, in the same sense as like Georgia did, in the entire work area. Dalton says “No.” (as she shakes her head no, in reference to having cameras in the processing area.

Video 3

So, is Spokane County’s Auditor Transparent?

Or, did she intentionally mislead the Commissioners?

You decide.