The Green Party is a new political party in the United States and an alternative to the well-known Democratic and Republican parties. It is part of a growing international Green Movement, which includes political parties and elected officials, throughout the world. The party is guided by Ten Key Values and a comprehensive political platform, both available at gp.org.

David Cobb was the Green presidential candidate in 2004. Ballot access is unreasonably difficult for new parties in Illinois, so the Will County Green Party was forced to file paperwork with the Will County Clerk to ensure that David Cobb was a qualified write-in candidate in Will County.

Questions have now been raised about the integrity of our voting system. Numerous, documented reports of voting irregularities are surfacing in Ohio. The non-partisan, federal Government Accountability Office has finally agreed to an immediate investigation into the irregularities. Considering these reports, some have even gone as far as to suggest, or speculate, that there may have been intentional voter fraud. Some of these reports have been compiled at votecobb.org. You can visit that site, and judge for yourself.

The integrity of our voting system is a non-partisan issue. It doesn't matter if you're a Democrat, a Green, a Libertarian, or a Republican. Most people believe that the voting system should be fair and honest, and the American public has a right to know if vote fraud was committed in Ohio.

It's important to verify the integrity of our voting system. Because questions have been raised, and fraud has been alleged, its even more important to check now. This is exactly why David Cobb, the Green Partys presidential candidate in 2004, with Michael Badnarik, the Libertarian, raised over $250,000 to fund and initiate a recount effort in Ohio. State law in Ohio gives presidential candidates, like David Cobb, the right to initiate a statewide recount; although, the candidate must pay to have this done.

The money has been raised, and a statewide recount in Ohio is now certain; however, there is already some indication that some people may not want the election results verified. Ohio Secretary of State, Republican Kenneth Blackwell, who administers elections in Ohio, refused to certify the election results in time to ensure that the recount is completed before the states presidential electors meet. Blackwell served as Chair of the Bush campaign in Ohio and, to ensure impartiality, should recuse himself from the recount process.

Despite Cobb's legal right, under Ohio law, to require a recount, a judge in Delaware County issued a temporary restraining order in an attempt to prevent a recount in that one, specific county. The judge issued the order without contacting or seeking any input from the candidates or their attorneys. The case is now being removed to federal court, where it is likely that the order will be dissolved.

This process may be repeated in other states, as Cobb has also recently and jointly filed for statewide recounts in New Mexico and Nevada, where other voting irregularities are being reported.

David Cobb didn't win the 2004 election, but he is fighting for democracy and making sure that our voting system is working properly. His work represents the commitment of Greens here in Will County, and throughout the world, to the Key Value of Grassroots Democracy. There are now more than 200 Greens in elected office throughout the United States, and 32 members of the European Parliament are Greens.

Go to votecobb.org to learn more about the recount effort, to contribute, or to volunteer.

Tim W. Tacker is chairperson of the Will County Green Party.

12/06/04