Republican Linda Stagner filed an affidavit last week with Saguache County Court protesting County Clerk Melinda Myers’ testimony May 31 during Sec. of State Scott Gessler’s suit to review ballots from the 2010 election. Following publication of a letter to the editor in last week’s issue of the Center Post-Dispatch, Stagner followed up with the following statement in her affidavit.
“At no time on election day or any other time was I told by an SOS official or county clerk staff that covering the over-votes on the ballots was a violation of law or to stop that practice.
“I want the court to know that testimony given in this case was inaccurate at the very least. Again, at no time was I told that the instructions given by ES&S to cover over-votes was illegal and that we were to ignore it. There were four election judges. Why would only one judge be told something this important? All judges were in the counting room during counting and each judge signed every ballot on which adjustments had been made.
“I want the court to know that testimony given in this case was inaccurate at the very least. Again, at no time was I told that the instructions given by ES&S to cover over-votes was illegal and that we were to ignore it. There were four election judges. Why would only one judge be told something this important? All judges were in the counting room during counting and each judge signed every ballot on which adjustments had been made.
“If this portion of the testimony is incorrect, how much more of Clerk Myers’ testimony was inaccurate?”
Stagner was not alone in her observation that testimony by various witnesses, including Secretary of State officials as well as Myers was not consistent with the facts or contradicted previous statements. In the past, Myers’ version of events has been challenged by the press, Republican and Democrat party officials, election officials and others involved in the 2010 election.
Election integrity activists statewide also have challenged public statements made by SOS officials concerning the Saguache election ordeal. A decision on the case is expected this week from Saguache District Judge Martin Gonzales.
Full Article: Center Post Dispatch Stagner files affidavit with Saguache court.