Elections Supervisor Takes Umbrage At Claims Of Election Fraud
PASCO COUNTY, FL — In an impassioned statement, Pasco County's supervisor of elections is among the latest elections officials taking umbrage at statements by critics who question the integrity of the electoral process and claim the results of the Nov. 3 general election had been compromised.
Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley, a Republican, rebuked those making allegations of voter fraud in the presidential election, describing the assertions as unfounded and destructive to democracy.
“In the days since the election, I have stood by as political pundits and some government officials have politicized the electoral process with baseless claims and misinformation, intent upon undermining the election results,” Corley said.
“I realized I could no longer stay silent. As I watched Georgia's Gabriel Sterling make an impassioned statement against actions which have resulted in threats against elections' officials, his words, ‘It has to stop,' compelled me to speak out not only in a professional capacity but also as an American citizen," he said.
“In just this past week, we listened to campaign attorney Joe DiGenova suggest that Chris Krebs, formerly with Homeland Security, should be ‘taken out at dawn and shot,’” Corley said. He noted that, to date, 26 lawsuits questioning the accuracy of the election have been tossed out.
“It's time to stop the destructive rhetoric and to stop prioritizing politics at the expense of our country's founding principles,” he said. “With every deep state conspiracy and illegitimate claim of fraud, our democracy sinks deeper and deeper into divisiveness.”
Corley isn't alone in his frustration.
"Unfortunately, fear and suspicion can be as dangerous to our democracy as a compromised election," said Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer. "After three decades in law enforcement, my commitment to integrity and compliance has never wavered, and I am focused every day on ensuring that Hillsborough County’s elections are safe and secure."
Latimer said those crying foul have yet to prove any impropriety in the elections, in which a record number of Floridians cast their ballots before and on Election Day — 4,737,540 by mail ballots and 4,332,221 during early voting.
"All allegations of criminal misconduct warrant attention, (but) we have not been presented with any evidence of widespread fraud," he said.
U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa) also took exception to the implication that the elections in Florida were anything but above board. She said the accusations are an affront to the hundreds of volunteer poll workers who sacrificed their time.
"The transparent count by poll workers and everyday Americans, including Republican and Democratic volunteers, is vital to ensuring a free and fair election. You see them quietly serving when you vote. We owe them a debt of gratitude — true guardians of democracy," she said.
"President-elect Biden has won the 270 electoral votes necessary to elect him president, and American democracy has proven strong in the face of an extremely close election," Castor said. "Over 4 million more Americans voted for Biden than voted for President Trump. President-elect Biden won both the Electoral College and the popular vote, something President Trump never attained. A basic tenet of freedom and of American democracy is 'one person, one vote' — majority rules.
She urged Americans to put the "hard-fought election behind us" and pull together for the sake of the country.
"I pledge to build bipartisan bridges, continue my effort in Congress to crush the coronavirus, help folks get back to work and send our children back to school safely," she said. "Right now, many of our neighbors need a helping hand, and our small businesses need a boost. Together, we will work to lower the costs of health care and continue to perfect our union by making America more fair, just and equal for all."
The nonprofit Brennan Center for Justice has been investigating claims of voter fraud since Russians were accused of meddling in the 2016 elections. However, extensive research by the institute indicated that fraud is rare, voter impersonation is virtually nonexistent, and many instances of fraud are actually mistakes by voters or administrators.
"The same is true for mail ballots, which are secure and essential to holding a safe election amid the coronavirus pandemic," said the Brennan Center.
Corley agreed, saying most anomalies or irregularities are the result of clerical errors by elections staff "who are taxed by extremely long hours in high-stress environments, and the fact that elections administration is highly dependent on temporary staff with steep learning curves in short time frames.”
"While I believe allegations of voter fraud should always be investigated, I have learned through research and speaking to my colleagues that true voter fraud is isolated and infrequent, as confirmed by FBI Director Christopher Wray and, recently, Attorney General William Barr," Corley said.
He blames social media and cable news networks for giving "unchallenged air to patently false and fabricated conspiracy theories" that "legitimize the idea that our electoral process is vulnerable to interference."
“In an ironic twist of fate, even the current administration's Department of Homeland Security has declared this to be the most secure and transparent election in history, and yet contempt for the process lives on without reality, facts or evidence of widespread fraud," Corley said. "With every deep state conspiracy and illegitimate claim of fraud, our democracy sinks deeper and deeper into divisiveness. As the world looks on, the greatest democracy in the world dares to risk the peaceful and orderly transition of power in favor of propagating unfounded claims of 'rigged elections.'"
Here is the complete text of Corley's public comments:
As an elected supervisor of elections, my responsibility to the nearly 400,000 constituents of Pasco County is to administer politically agnostic, fair, and transparent elections. It is a duty I proudly and willingly accept in public service and in preservation of our precious democracy.
In the days since the election, I have stood by as political pundits and some government officials have politicized the electoral process with baseless claims and misinformation intent upon undermining the election results. I realized yesterday I could nolonger stay silent. As I watched Georgia's Gabriel Sterling make an impassioned statement against actions which have resulted in threats against elections' officials, his words, 'It has to stop,' compelled me to speak out not only in a professional capacity, but also as an American citizen.
While I recognize the apolitical responsibility of my elected position, I cannot stand by as my work, and the work of all professional elections' administrators, becomes the scapegoat of those seeking political gain.
In the words of John Adams, 'Facts are stubborn things,' and while I believe allegations of voter fraud should always be investigated, I have learned through research and speaking to my colleagues that true voter fraud is isolated and infrequent, as confirmed by FBI Director Christopher Wray and, recently, Attorney General William Barr.
Research has also confirmed that most anomalies or irregularities are the result of clerical errors by elections staff who are taxed by extremely long hours in high-stress environments, and the fact that elections administration is highly dependent on temporary staff with steep learning curves in short timeframes. To allege that massive voter fraud influenced the 2020 results at a time when our elections have never been more secure is duplicitous, and while it is true that the electoral votes of 2020 mirror that of 2016, the margin of victory in most contested battleground states is considerably higher than in 2016.
With every deep state conspiracy and illegitimate claim of fraud our democracy sinks deeper and deeper into divisiveness. As the world looks on, the greatest democracy in the world dares to risk the peaceful and orderly transition of power in favor of propagating unfounded claims of rigged elections.
Through social media and cable news networks which give unchallenged air to patently false and fabricated conspiracy theories, we legitimize the idea that our electoral process is vulnerable to interference - the desired outcome of Russian meddling in 2016 as documented by both Volume 1 of the Mueller report and the United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence chaired by Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida.
In an ironic twist of fate, even the current administration's Department of Homeland Security has declared this to be the most secure and transparent election in history, and yet contempt for the process lives on without reality, facts or evidence of widespread fraud.
To date, 26 lawsuits challenging the election results have failed in courts of law. In just this past week, we listened to campaign attorney JoeDiGenova suggest that Chris Krebs, formerly with Homeland Security, should be 'taken out at dawn and shot,' and Attorney General William Barr confirm the Department of Justice found no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 presidential election.
I believe that history will not be kind to those who are cognizant of the truth and yet choose silence for political expediency. In his farewell address in 1796, George Washington spoke to the dangers of those who 'will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.'
In the final analysis, the people have spoken, and the enduring truth is that the election is over. It's clear by all accounts that on Jan. 20, 2021, President-Elect Biden will be sworn into office as the 46th president of theUnited States.
After delivering the most secure, transparent election in history with record turnout and during a pandemic, dedicated public servants deserve recognition, respect and thanks - not vilification.
Although our gender, race and political affiliation are as unique as the regions were present, the quality that unifies us as professionals is our dedication. We and our staffs take pride in our work as the politically agnostic keepers of the bedrock of our democracy. It's time to stop the destructive rhetoric and to stop prioritizing politics at the expense of our country's founding principles.
We need to once again show the world our strength through unification whether it's Congress singing 'God Bless America' on the steps of the capitol as they did after Sept. 11, 2001, or all of us listening to U2 singing 'There is No Them, There is Only Us,' we did it before and we must do it again. As I often tell students during school presentations, the great thing about American elections is that once they're over, we all come together as patriots and await our next opportunity to be heard at the ballot box.
Our actions today will ensure our voices can be heard in the future."
This article originally appeared on the New Port Richey Patch
