This report was published for Mark Greene's first campaign for Washington Secretary of State in 2008. Mark has announced an exploratory campaign for the Secretary of State election scheduled for 2012.
Mark Greene is the chairman of the Party of Commons. The Party of Commons is economically progressive, culturally traditional, non-interventionist, for common sense defense and pro-Bill of Rights.
SECRETARY OF STATE CAMPAIGN: THE REPORT
DEFENSE OF TOP 2 PRIMARY
The reinstated "Top 2" Primary will be defended; this primary once again ensures our opportunity to vote for ANY candidate in primaries, a tradition in Washington. This primary, by its inherent nature, ensures that minor parties and independents are a part of the opening process of the electoral season. Voters will NOT have to sign statements or choose a slate committing themselves to a particular party's candidates. Primaries are not an offbeat stop on the way to the main event, they are a fundamental part of the election process, as they are a part of the winnowing process that determines which candidates should be in the General Election. The Democrat Secretary of State candidate (Osgood) is against "Top 2".
DEFENSE OF INITIATIVE SYSTEM
I am a strong supporter of initiatives (the Common People's Government) and I would do everything in my power as Secretary of State to rebuff attempts by some in the Legislature to weaken the Initiative system. In fact, I would try to make it somewhat EASIER to put initiatives on the ballot. Some Democrats in the Washington Legislature are trying to make it effectively harder to put initiatives on the ballot.
DEFENSE OF GENERAL POSTAL MAIL VOTING
Voting by mail should be an option for all voters. I am a supporter of general mail voting, as long as there is a recourse for voters to vote in the traditional method at regional polling stations. Also, mail voting should have plenty of checks and balances to ensure the integrity of the election system. As with any kind of voting system, there will be problems uniquely identified to a particular system, and they must be counteracted with actions to keep the same problems from reoccurring, and through robust auditing. The Democrat Secretary of State candidate (Osgood) is against so-called all-postal mail voting, according to an article in the Seattle Times.
CORPORATE REGISTRATIONS
As the registrar of Corporations; also, the Secretary of State's duty, I would see to it that no special favors are given to particular corporate entities, and that the corporate regulations of Washington are set forth in an egalitarian and professional manner.
FRAUD AND WHISTLEBLOWERS DIVISION
I would create a sub-division in the Elections Division that could be called something like the Fraud and Whistleblowers Sub-division. That office would concentrate on monitoring election systems, conducting audits, and communicating with whistleblowers.
Whistleblowers who dutifully, and sometimes courageously, report problems or abuse of the electoral system should be welcomed as an important part of ensuring the integrity of it. If I'm elected, whistleblowers will have a special place in the Secretary of State's Office.
People who have special skills in monitoring elections and knowledge of voting apparatuses would be welcome additions to my office; someone like Bev Harris, a renowned investigator of voting fraud across America, would make a good Deputy Secretary of State. These are the kind of employees that would ensure that Washington has the most integral voting system in the country.
RANDOM PROFESSIONAL CHECKS ON VOTING MACHINES
The Secretary of State's Office, as the state office in charge of elections, among other things, it should be responsible for vigilantly safeguarding our electoral rights as set forth in our federal and state laws, and there should be a sincere upholding of the federal and state constitutions. Constant, professional and random checks of the voting systems in Washington are essential. There is no democracy if the votes are not counted correctly or at all. Paper based election systems, such as optical scanning, are a must, so that the votes can be audited and verified. In close elections, within a margin of two percent of winning or qualifying, votes should be verified by a hand count. Voting machines from controversial manufacturers, or with constant problems, should not be allowed for use in Washington.
SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON AUDITING NEEDED
I would make sure that my staff is not overworked and that they understand the importance of making continuous audits and checks so that errors from our office, if any, will be caught as soon as possible. Conscientiousness, professionalism, integrity and devotion to detail would be a priority in my office. I would make sure there is an auditing position, if there is not, now, for each division of the Secretary of State's Office: Elections, Historical Archives, and Corporate Registrations. For cost saving measures, other positions may have to be combined together, in order to accommodate the new emphasis on checking, auditing, and generally making sure that work is error free.
INDIGENT CANDIDATES
Running for office should be relatively easy, but the system to assist prospective candidates who cannot pay the filing fee is not working. Filing fees are tied to the salaries of the office holders, but as the salaries rise continuously, so does the requirement for the number of signatures on petitions. Collecting signatures is hard work and time consuming. While the rigors of the work that the office holders do, and the number of hours they work, may not change if their salary increases, the opposite is true for those who have to use a petition in lieu of the filing fee. Not only that, but the petition system is not fair for those who are working, but still economically unable to pay the filing fee, and for those who are elderly or disabled. Working people often don't have time to collect signatures, especially as the requirement raises with the office holders' pay raises. The elderly and disabled may face physical obstacles to collecting signatures. It's a degenerative system and unfair on the face of it. If elected to Secretary of State, I will propose a new system for those who want to run for office and cannot afford the filing fees.
HISTORICAL ARCHIVES
As this office is the preserver of Washington's history, I would see to it that the history of all Washingtonians is revered and that special emphasis be given to this function of the Secretary of State's duties.
LOWER VOTING AGE TO 16
Getting the public interested in politics at an earlier age, by lowering the voting age to 16, would help in educating the electorate (by developing more interest in politics) and reducing cynicism in politics. Sixteen is the same age that minors are now allowed to drive automobiles. Mark Greene, if elected Secretary of State, would propose this major change in our system of governance. It's past time to broaden the participation of governance in America by lowering the voting age.
VOTING REGISTRATION SYSTEM
The incumbent Secretary of State's relatively recent programs of reducing the voter roll of invalid registrations may have been rushed and did not take into account considerations that would be more vigilant in protecting voting rights, generally.
New applications are, also, of a concern. Reed was reprimanded by the United States District Court for trying to deny new voter registration applications if they did not exactly match government agency data [Washington Association of Churches versus Sam Reed]. However, government agency data is not necessarily correct and an individual's voting rights should not be automatically denied.
Felon voting restoration should come about upon their release from imprisonment, home arrest, or release from electronic monitoring systems.
The Secretary of State should be more mindful of voters' rights and should not rush to overhaul voting registration systems, especially to deny a potential registrant or void a current registration, without careful and deliberate checking of each registrant.
[First published in 2008 and updated on 9/27/08.]
Copyright 2009, Party of Commons TM
Mark Greene is the chairman of the Party of Commons. The Party of Commons is economically progressive, culturally traditional, non-interventionist, for common sense defense and pro-Bill of Rights.
SECRETARY OF STATE CAMPAIGN: THE REPORT
DEFENSE OF TOP 2 PRIMARY
The reinstated "Top 2" Primary will be defended; this primary once again ensures our opportunity to vote for ANY candidate in primaries, a tradition in Washington. This primary, by its inherent nature, ensures that minor parties and independents are a part of the opening process of the electoral season. Voters will NOT have to sign statements or choose a slate committing themselves to a particular party's candidates. Primaries are not an offbeat stop on the way to the main event, they are a fundamental part of the election process, as they are a part of the winnowing process that determines which candidates should be in the General Election. The Democrat Secretary of State candidate (Osgood) is against "Top 2".
DEFENSE OF INITIATIVE SYSTEM
I am a strong supporter of initiatives (the Common People's Government) and I would do everything in my power as Secretary of State to rebuff attempts by some in the Legislature to weaken the Initiative system. In fact, I would try to make it somewhat EASIER to put initiatives on the ballot. Some Democrats in the Washington Legislature are trying to make it effectively harder to put initiatives on the ballot.
DEFENSE OF GENERAL POSTAL MAIL VOTING
Voting by mail should be an option for all voters. I am a supporter of general mail voting, as long as there is a recourse for voters to vote in the traditional method at regional polling stations. Also, mail voting should have plenty of checks and balances to ensure the integrity of the election system. As with any kind of voting system, there will be problems uniquely identified to a particular system, and they must be counteracted with actions to keep the same problems from reoccurring, and through robust auditing. The Democrat Secretary of State candidate (Osgood) is against so-called all-postal mail voting, according to an article in the Seattle Times.
CORPORATE REGISTRATIONS
As the registrar of Corporations; also, the Secretary of State's duty, I would see to it that no special favors are given to particular corporate entities, and that the corporate regulations of Washington are set forth in an egalitarian and professional manner.
FRAUD AND WHISTLEBLOWERS DIVISION
I would create a sub-division in the Elections Division that could be called something like the Fraud and Whistleblowers Sub-division. That office would concentrate on monitoring election systems, conducting audits, and communicating with whistleblowers.
Whistleblowers who dutifully, and sometimes courageously, report problems or abuse of the electoral system should be welcomed as an important part of ensuring the integrity of it. If I'm elected, whistleblowers will have a special place in the Secretary of State's Office.
People who have special skills in monitoring elections and knowledge of voting apparatuses would be welcome additions to my office; someone like Bev Harris, a renowned investigator of voting fraud across America, would make a good Deputy Secretary of State. These are the kind of employees that would ensure that Washington has the most integral voting system in the country.
RANDOM PROFESSIONAL CHECKS ON VOTING MACHINES
The Secretary of State's Office, as the state office in charge of elections, among other things, it should be responsible for vigilantly safeguarding our electoral rights as set forth in our federal and state laws, and there should be a sincere upholding of the federal and state constitutions. Constant, professional and random checks of the voting systems in Washington are essential. There is no democracy if the votes are not counted correctly or at all. Paper based election systems, such as optical scanning, are a must, so that the votes can be audited and verified. In close elections, within a margin of two percent of winning or qualifying, votes should be verified by a hand count. Voting machines from controversial manufacturers, or with constant problems, should not be allowed for use in Washington.
SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON AUDITING NEEDED
I would make sure that my staff is not overworked and that they understand the importance of making continuous audits and checks so that errors from our office, if any, will be caught as soon as possible. Conscientiousness, professionalism, integrity and devotion to detail would be a priority in my office. I would make sure there is an auditing position, if there is not, now, for each division of the Secretary of State's Office: Elections, Historical Archives, and Corporate Registrations. For cost saving measures, other positions may have to be combined together, in order to accommodate the new emphasis on checking, auditing, and generally making sure that work is error free.
INDIGENT CANDIDATES
Running for office should be relatively easy, but the system to assist prospective candidates who cannot pay the filing fee is not working. Filing fees are tied to the salaries of the office holders, but as the salaries rise continuously, so does the requirement for the number of signatures on petitions. Collecting signatures is hard work and time consuming. While the rigors of the work that the office holders do, and the number of hours they work, may not change if their salary increases, the opposite is true for those who have to use a petition in lieu of the filing fee. Not only that, but the petition system is not fair for those who are working, but still economically unable to pay the filing fee, and for those who are elderly or disabled. Working people often don't have time to collect signatures, especially as the requirement raises with the office holders' pay raises. The elderly and disabled may face physical obstacles to collecting signatures. It's a degenerative system and unfair on the face of it. If elected to Secretary of State, I will propose a new system for those who want to run for office and cannot afford the filing fees.
HISTORICAL ARCHIVES
As this office is the preserver of Washington's history, I would see to it that the history of all Washingtonians is revered and that special emphasis be given to this function of the Secretary of State's duties.
LOWER VOTING AGE TO 16
Getting the public interested in politics at an earlier age, by lowering the voting age to 16, would help in educating the electorate (by developing more interest in politics) and reducing cynicism in politics. Sixteen is the same age that minors are now allowed to drive automobiles. Mark Greene, if elected Secretary of State, would propose this major change in our system of governance. It's past time to broaden the participation of governance in America by lowering the voting age.
VOTING REGISTRATION SYSTEM
The incumbent Secretary of State's relatively recent programs of reducing the voter roll of invalid registrations may have been rushed and did not take into account considerations that would be more vigilant in protecting voting rights, generally.
New applications are, also, of a concern. Reed was reprimanded by the United States District Court for trying to deny new voter registration applications if they did not exactly match government agency data [Washington Association of Churches versus Sam Reed]. However, government agency data is not necessarily correct and an individual's voting rights should not be automatically denied.
Felon voting restoration should come about upon their release from imprisonment, home arrest, or release from electronic monitoring systems.
The Secretary of State should be more mindful of voters' rights and should not rush to overhaul voting registration systems, especially to deny a potential registrant or void a current registration, without careful and deliberate checking of each registrant.
[First published in 2008 and updated on 9/27/08.]
Copyright 2009, Party of Commons TM
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