UPDATE:
Early elections began today in Harris County. As a preview to the election process county officials made the Insite aware of last year's controversy at at the polls. On the Insite we reported the King Street Patriots played a pivotal role at the polls last year. Their representative took up my offer to give the public a clear idea of what the organizations role is and will be. Here is the comments and statement from the King Street Patriots here in Houston. And remember if you take issue with anything on the Insite make sure you reach out to me like the Patriots did:
Statement:
First, the King Street Patriots is an independent non-profit organization. They are neither part of the Republican Party, nor do they perform tasks on behalf of the Republican Party. Further, King Street Patriots is a separate entity from True the Vote, the group to which you are most likely referring, albeit with incorrect references. True the Vote is a non-partisan, citizen led initiative to inspire and equip citizens for involvement in election processes. The goal of these entities is to do all we reasonably can to reduce and eliminate voter fraud. We would hope that all reasonable people, and members of both of the major political parties, would be interested in supporting any and all efforts to improve the integrity of our elections. Second, the King Street Patriots have never been “in charge” of elections or polling sites. Polling place operations are run by political parties, with hierarchy determined by the outcome of the previous gubernatorial elections. A citizen-led group like King Street Patriots has no authority whatsoever at the polls, nor should it. The True the Vote initiative provides education and training on polling place procedures, available to any citizen, regardless of party affiliation. Well trained election workers are an essential component of free and fair election processes.
Third, no political party is in charge of voting. The County Clerk for Harris County is in charge of running elections, and in that process doing so in conformity with election laws. Each polling place has election judges who are nominated by the respective political parties. When one political party is not represented at the election polling place, there are opportunities for fraudulent activities. Parity between the parties is an essential element of sound polling place operations and is further ameliorated by the presence of poll watchers. A poll watcher has no authority other than to make note of an election irregularity, and to in turn call it to the attention of the election judge.
Fourth, you report there were complaints made last year. That is true, but what you did not report is that all-ALL-of the complaints which were asserted against the poll watchers trained by True the Vote were found to be without merit. The complaints were invariably made by election officials who were not accustomed to having poll watchers or anyone question their activities and practices. These complaints were all investigated, coming up with nothing about which a legitimate complaint could be made against the King Street Patriots or True the Vote.
Fifth, the County provides polling place worker training for both parties. There is no special training or special responsibility for only Democrats in this or any other election.
We would hope that rather than incorrectly implying that King Street Patriots is somehow a source of controversy that you would instead be willing to report on the great public service provided by True the Vote and the inspirational spirit of volunteerism that compels citizens to get engaged in the administration, protection, and defense of elections. If our elections are not truly fair, we are not truly free.
Sincerely,
Brock C. Akers
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