Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023/10/24 WORKSHOP SESSION 10:30AMBRAZOS COUNTY B RYAN, T EXAS NOTICE OF MEETING AND AGENDA WORKSHOP SESSION BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WILL MEET INA WORKSHOP SESSION AS FOLLOWS: MEETING DATE: October 24, 2023 MEETING TIME: 10:30 AM MEETING PLACE: Brazos County Administration Building, 200 S. Texas Avenue, Suite 106, Bryan, TX 77803 THIS MEETING WILL BE CONDUCTED BY VIDEO CONFERENCE WITH AT LEAST A QUORUM OF COMMISSIONERS COURT MEMBERS PARTICIPATING IN PERSON AT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS SET FORTH IN SECTION 551.127 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE. 1. Call to Order 2. Presentation and discussion on Election Integrity by Dr. Walter Daugherity. 3. Adjourn The Brazos County Administration Building, 200 S. Texas Avenue, Suite 106, Bryan, TX77803 is wheelchair accessible. Handicap parking spaces are available. Any request for sign interpretive services must be made two working days before the meeting. To make arrangements, please call (979) 361-4102. The foregoing minutes of the Commissioners Court Workshop Session held October 24, 2023, have been examined and are approved in open Court this the 7th day of November 2023, in Bryan, Brazos County, T s. Duane Peters County Judge Chuck Konderla Commissioner, Precinct 2 Wanda J. Watspn 1 Commissioner ecinct 4 Attest: Karen McQueen County Clerk Steve Aldrich Commissioner, Precinct 1 Nancy Berry Commissioner, Precinct 3 MINUTES OCTOBER 24, 2023 BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT WORKSHOP SESSION Call to Order A Workshop Session of the Commissioners' Court of Brazos County, Texas was held it the Brazos County Commissioners Courtroom in the Administration Building, 200 South Texas Avenue, in Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 24, 2023 with the following members of the Court present: Duane Peters, County Judge, Presiding; Steve Aldrich, Commissioner of Precinct 1; Chuck Konderla, Commissioner of Precinct 2, Present via Video -conference; Nancy Berry, Commissioner of Precinct 3; Wanda J. Watson, Commissioner of Precinct 4; Karen McQueen, County Clerk. The attached sheets contain the names of the citizens and officials that were in attendance. 2. Presentation and discussion on Election I ntegrity by Dr. Walter Daugherity. Judge Peters called the meeting to Order immediately following the Regular Meeting and introduced presenter, Dr. Walter Daugherity. Dr. Daugherity stated that the purpose of his presentation is to assist in providing steps to improve elections. He argued that elections are the bedrock of our society and it is imperative that citizens believe elections are honest and fair. Dr. Daugherity posed the question, "do we have honest elections?" His analysis of election data from approximately 10 percent of counties within the United States revealed that 298 counties showed statistical impossibilities. Based on that data, he concludes that we likely do not have honest elections. He recommended four improvements to be made to better our election process: 1. More cross checks 2. No internet connections 3. Fewer computers 4. Follow the laws better Dr. Daugherity further detailed each of those improvements. One of the major points shared was regarding certification of voting machine testing labs. Dr. Daugherity explained that neither the HART Intercivic System or ES&S are properly certified by an accredited testing facility, as required by the Election Code. Judge Peters stated that HART is the voting machine used by Brazos County and is approved by the Secretary of State. Dr. Daugherity reiterated a need for accountability in the matter. He concluded with two final points. First, he believes that the voter rolls need to be better maintained, especially in regards to deceased, registered voters. Second, a return to precinct voting would help preserve the integrity of elections. Judge Peters stated that this is a non -partisan issue and it is of the utmost importance that the County does everything within its power to ensure fair and honest elections. A copy of the presentation is attached. The County Judge adjourned the meeting at 11:55 a.m. 3. Adjourn BIOGRAPHY Dr. Walter C. Daugherity is a computer consultant and also Senior Lecturer Emeritus in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Texas A&M University. He graduated from Oklahoma Christian University with a degree in mathematics, and then earned master's and doctor's degrees from Harvard University, which he attended on a Prize Fellowship from the National Science Foundation. As a computer expert he has consulted for major national and international firms, and for government agencies, including classified work. He helped develop the national computer keyboard standard and invented integrated user training within computer applications as well as various electronic computer interfaces. As a computer science and engineering teacher and researcher, he has published 26 research articles from over $2.8 million in funded research projects, plus conference papers and other publications. He taught many areas of computer science and engineering for 37 years (32 years at Texas A&M University), including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, programming and software design, and cyberethics. At Harvard he received the Bowdoin Prize and medal for writing, and in 2015 was named a Distinguished Alumnus of Oklahoma Christian University. He is a life member of the Association for Computing Machinery and American MENSA. Improving. Our Elec#ions'. Dr. Walter C. Daugherity Brazos County Commissioners Court. October 24, 2023 Pg - of OLI BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT 0�0 DAY OF Name (PLEASE PRINT) K Letl'A M, Organization (PLEASE PRINT) SCL� Gt n z-5-I.-C S(O 6CSO Gi'74i'ae h Pgofof BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT JA DAY OF Name (PLEASE PRINT) KI (y R-s FIA�J/lj I�L4CCA' JIFrJ!5 xa p e-- C'p� ✓tom plc Cvq)6vEtL- Lar c- �C Lind& S fc� A I � ca 1,0 Mouawo,(lull-e 20 a(j M9 Ldd6- 6J Organization (PLEASE PRINT) ( 1I -,�Ew Lwv- ct-hzen D"- &G� 7 Pg--0 of - y BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT JV'%AY OF �d Name (PLEASE PRINT) (kite - 'Al ems. r Al Lill"'I'll(PIL 20 Organization (PLEASE PRINT) lE C i r ; Ze-j Pg�-of_q BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT je DAY OF / , 20 t�, AM/PM, a� Name -�. A&"t .5 iL 6 0 ua�- !� • M_/ � / 1. Organization (PLEASE PRINT) 60, lcoc&- 11�M • Nu+ Without I) honest elections 2) which our citizens BELIEVE are honest., we don't have a country. © Walter C. Daugherity 2022-2023 Voter Turnout (17,o of Reg istered V 0-ters) Biden Trump Other TOTAL ©Walter C. Daugherity 2022-2023 81.2 million 74.2 million 4.3 million 159.7 million / 168.33 million = 95% turnout Very n5omewhat All 37% Republican 55% ■ Not sure Independent 32% 21% Democrat 24% 24% © Rasmussen Poll 2023 x Not very o Not at all 7% 6% 26% What Can We Do A,bo,u,t. It To improve Our Elections? 1 o More cross-checks 2. No Internet connections 3e Fewer computers involved 40 Follow the laws better © Walter C. Daugherity 2022-2023 What Can We Do About, It To Improve Our'Ele'ctions? I o More cross-checks 2. No Internet connections 30 Fewer computers involved 4e Follow the laws better Walter C. Daugherity 2022-2023 More Cross -Checks Will Improve Our Elections 1(a). After the 3-precinct audit count, choose another 3 or more precincts at random and hand - count them. © Walter C. Daugherity 2022-2023 More dross -Checks Will Improve Our Elections 1(b). Reconcile the Official Canvass (the totals) with the Official Cast Vote Record Report (the list of how each ballot voted). © Walter C. Daugherity 2022-2023 What Can We Do About It To improve Our Elections? I o More cross-checks 2. No Internet connections 3. Fewer computers involved 4. Follow the laws better ©Walter C. Daugherity 2022-2023 n era C 0 Government Control Of Vote Tabulation INTERNET URE/AWS/GOOG A4, k� Foreign Malign DHS4FMIC/ODNI ence Center EI-ISAC PrimaryFusionCenter ERIC AT&T / Verizon / T-Mobile 6MPrecinct Server County Election AIR Tabulator Center', GAP; e-Pollbooks s --- �' Tabulator Printer WebEOC Portal To DPS SOS Albert ✓ Sensor ---*I Tabulator STATE OFFICE 31 No Internet Connections Willimprove Our Elections 2(a). Remove the Internet routers from the polling places. 2(b). Remove the Albert Sensor. © Walter C. Daugherity 2022-2023 What Can We Do, About It To Improve Our Elections? I o More cross-checks 2e No Internet connections 3. Fewer computers involved 40 Follow the laws better © Walter C. Daugherity 2022-2023 Fewer Computers Will Improve Our Elections 3(a). Paper poll books © Walter C. Daugherity 2022-2023 What Can We Do, About It To Imp -rove Our Elections? 1 o More cross-checks 20 No Internet connections 3. Fewer computers involved 4. Follow the laws better © Walter C. Daugherity 2022-2023 Following The Laws Better Will improve Our Elections 4(a). Blank ballots "shall be numbered consecutively beginning with the number I." (Election Code 52.062) © Walter C. Daugherity 2022-2023 �M Following The Laws Better 0 Will Improve Our Elections 4(b). "A voting system may not be used in an election unless the system ... complies with the voting system standards adopted by the Election Assistance Commission...." (Election Code 122.001 (a)) © Walter C. Daugherity 2022-2023 What Can We Do About It, To Improve Our Elections? 1 o More cross-checks 2. No Internet connections 3. Fewer computers involved 40 Follow the laws better © Walter C. Daugherity 2022-2023 5. Maintain voter roll properly. Harris County had: 1,100 [known] illegal voters ° 3,600 ballots mailed out but not reported to state 9,000 voters not on state voter roll 64,153 deceased registered voters (on Social Security death list) 384,000 voters with NCOA address discrepancies © Walter C. Daugherity 2022-2023 What Else Cah We Do Abou It To" Improve Our Elections? 6. Return to precinct voting. @Walter C. Daugherity 2022-2023 Telegram: Dr-D-Presents Rumble: wdaugherity © Walter C. Daugherity 2022-2023 https://texasgop.org/return-to-excellence/ Texas GOP Resolution Supporting a "Return to Excellence" in Voting and Elections POSTED 10.05.2023 - by James Wesolek WHEREAS, the Republican National Committee (RNC) adopted a "Resolution Urging a `Return to Excellence' in Voting and Elections" during the RNC Summer 2023 Meeting; and WHEREAS, the Republican Party of Texas declares our opposition to voting manipulation schemes and seeks to return to the functional and historic balloting and polling experience that Texans understand, appreciate, and accept; and WHEREAS, ensuring the integrity of our voting and election administration is critical and foundational to maintaining a civil and decent society decentralized from a federal government, as the Founders intended; and WHEREAS, Texans expect transparent, accurate, and timely determinations pertaining to elections and the administration of elections: and WHEREAS, elections have been under assault from those on the Left as they attempt to implement schemes and intentionally inject chaotic administrative decisions that have drastically changed how elections are conducted in our most populous counties in Texas; and WHEREAS, election officials are obliged to ensure equal polling place access and should not eliminate polling places in order to move to countywide voting, which has reduced the number of polling places in more conservative areas; and WHEREAS, Democrats are attempting to pass non -citizen voting, ranked choice voting, and increased mail -in balloting in Texas, which the Republican Party of Texas has previously resolved to oppose in order to ensure that only United States citizens decide our elections; and WHEREAS, the grassroots activists of the Republican Party of Texas have discovered and made it abundantly clear that there are recognized problems with electronic voting procedures and that our instituted systems and election processes have been intentionally complicated; and WHEREAS, credible election experts agree that the most resilient voting systems are those that use paper ballots, either marked by hand or with an assistive device, and allow voters to verify their votes before any means of tabulation; now THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas opposes any means of voting that do not have proper safeguards in place or that are exclusively electronic, and calls on every county in the state to use ballot procedures that are fully auditable with hand -marked, voter -verifiable paper ballots to ensure that every vote is memorialized by a paper record; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas calls on the Secretary of State to implement anti -counterfeit ballot printing, tracing, and verification procedures; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas supports the rights of counties that are willing and able to competently and efficiently implement voting procedures that do not require the use of machines and also supports those that implement hand counting procedures that are fully auditable to do so; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas calls on the Texas Legislature to pass laws that allow for full and transparent hand -counting procedures that are planned, timely, and fully observable by the public and the registered parties for precinct -level audits and recounts; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas calls on all Republican officeholders to defend the historic practice of geographically localized precinct polling places; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas stands firmly behind voter identification laws and calls on the Texas Legislature to keep and pass laws to ensure that the identity of every voter is verified, regardless of the method by which the citizen votes; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas opposes all efforts to unreasonably expand time periods for early or mail -in voting that make ballot counting procedures intentionally unmanageable or incapable of being completed expeditiously on election day; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas calls for the elimination of funding by non -governmental organizations, whether directly or indirectly, for all activities related to our elections; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas calls for the creation and maintenance of precinct polling places so that voting occurs in each legal precinct or geographic unit in order to provide impartial access for all voters; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas calls for a necessary "return to excellence" — a return to the simple and proven methods of precinct voting with auditable voting procedures using paper ballots, in fair, reasonable, and limited time periods, using proper voter identification to strengthen voter confidence and ensure that election procedures can be a fair and open process for all to participate.