Election 2011 Recount

What a long day this has been. The recount started around 10AM and ended just before 6PM. Joe Maturo won by a final total of 4,025 to 3991. The Board of Finance ends up 4-2 in favor of the Republicans.

There is not much good video of the actual recount as it was happening due to a ruling by the Registrars of Voters, Head Moderator and Town Clerk that blocked video cameras from being placed in a reasonable location. Originally I had used my hand held camera, like I have done at just about every major Board and Commission meeting for 4 years, to video the recounting from close range. However, at 11:15AM I was informed by the police officer on duty that I had to set up in bad location which inhibited me from seeing or hearing anything of substance. The officer informed me that was the decision of the Registrars. This decision was made in clear violation of a Freedom of Information ruling about camera placements that can be found here. One has to wonder what the Registrars wanted to hide from the camera. I will be filing a complaint with the Freedom of Information Commission this week. When town officials take it upon themselves to limit the reasonable access of the public it diminishes peoples' trust in the integrity of the process and nothing is more important than making sure the votes are counted correctly. This the Registrars, Head Moderator and Town Clerk failed miserably at today.