In sum, the Court’s conclusion that a constitutionally adequate recount is impractical is a prophecy the Court’s own judgment will not allow to be tested. Such an untested prophecy should not decide the Presidency of the United States. I dissent. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, dissenting opinion Bush v Gore 531 US 98 (2000)
Mr Thompson, you’re under arrest for election fraud. Boardwalk Empire s2e1: 21, rozzer, HBO 2011
Voter intimidation, fraud, theft of ballot boxes and bribery. Boardwalk Empire: Ourselves Alone s2e2, lawyer to Nucky
A General Election was called. Despite being cheered wherever he went Churchill’s Conservatives were defeated in the poll, with the Labour Party winning a massive majority in parliament. World War II: The Complete History: The Presence of History, Discovery 2000
Freud was not alone in his pessimism. Politicians like Adolf Hitler emerged from a growing despair in the 1920s about democracy. The Nazis were convinced that democracy was dangerous because it unleashed a selfish individualism, but didn’t have the means to control it. Hitler’s party, the National Socialists, stood in elections promising in their propaganda that they would abandon democracy because of the chaos and unemployment it led to. Adam Curtis, The Century of the Self, 2002
The Balkans: President Clinton’s representative, Richard Holbrooke, brought the question out into the open. Suppose elections are free and fair, he said, and those elected are racists, fascists, separatists. That is the dilemma. Adam Curtis, Can’t Get You Out of My Head IV: But What if the People are Stupid? BBC 2021
The 2000 election itself: the most scandalous in US history ... An ominous oracle. Oliver Stone’s Untold History of the United States IX: Bush and Clinton – American Triumphalism – New World Order, Showtime 2012
US Supreme Court 5-4 to stop a recount thus handing Bush the election ... If it had happened in another country it would have been denounced as a coup by the United States. ibid.
We opposed elections while pretending to support democracy. The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers, 2009
Money, drink, libels, gangs of toughs, this was all-out war at the Hustings. Tories accused the Whigs of being fanatics, the dregs of the populus, atheists, commonwealth men. Whigs accused Tories of being willing tools of the Jesuits and the French. Simon Schama, A History of Britain: Britannia Incorporated, BBC 2000
In October 1974 Wilson called another election, the fourth between himself and Heath. Heath was drinking in the Last Chance Saloon. Wilson won again. But only just. Heath vs. Wilson: The 10 Year Duel, BBC 2012
We had a 14% lead in the Daily Mail the Friday before polling day. Joe Haines, political adviser to Harold Wilson
The election of 1828 once again saw Adams vs Jackson ... a new low for mud-slinging. Ultimate Guide to the Presidents e2: Power to the People, History 2013
It will be a sad day for this country when a leading politician cannot spend his election expenses in any way he sees fit. Peter Cook, Secret Policeman’s Ball, 1989
An election is coming. Universal peace is declared, and the foxes have a sincere interest in prolonging the lives of the poultry. George Eliot, Felix Holt
Apparently, a democracy is a place where numerous elections are held at great cost without issues and with interchangeable candidates. Gore Vidal
The only difference between Hitler and Bush is that Hitler was elected. Kurt Vonnegut, Breakfast of Champions
Forum: Mister Curtis, are there programs that can be used to secretly fix elections?
Clinton Curtis: Yes.
Forum: How do you know that to be the case?
Clinton Curtis: Because in October of 2000 I wrote a prototype for Congressman Tom Feeney ... that did just that.
Forum: When you say ‘did just that’, it would rig an election?
Clinton Curtis: It would flip the vote 51/49 or whatever you wanted it to go to and whatever race you wanted to win.
Forum: And would that program that you designed be something that election officials ... could detect?
Clinton Curtis: They’d never see it.
Forum: So how would such a program – a secret program that fixes the election – how could it be detected?
Clinton Curtis: You would have to view it either as a source code or you would have to have a receipt and then count the hard paper against the actual votes ... other than that you wouldn’t see it.
Forum: Given the availability of such vote-rigging software, and the testimony that has been given under oath of substantial statistical anomalies – gross difference between exit polling data and the actual tabulated results – do you have an opinion whether or not the Ohio presidential election was rigged?
Clinton Curtis: Yes, I would say it was. Clinton Eugene Curtis, computer programmer, 2004
Those who vote decide nothing. Those who count the vote decide everything. Joseph Stalin
The right of voting for representatives is the primary right by which other rights are protected. To take away this right is to reduce a man to slavery, for slavery consists in being subject to the will of another, and he that has not a vote in the election of representatives is in this case. Thomas Paine, First Principles of Government, 1795
If you are part of a society that votes, then do so. There may be no candidates and no measures you want to vote for ... but there are certain to be ones you want to vote against. In case of doubt, vote against. By this rule you will rarely go wrong. Robert A Heinlein, Time Enough for Love
Our elections are a fucking charade. And tomorrow, ladies and gentlemen, they’re selling your life under you – don’t you ever fucking forget it either. Bill Hicks
Well that was a hard blow. But what do you do? You make the best of it. Al Gore, An Inconvenient Truth, 2006
What is at stake is the integrity of our democracy. Al Gore
I just received the following wire from my generous Daddy: 'Dear Jack, Don’t buy a single vote more than is necessary. I’ll be damned if I’m going to pay for a landslide’. John F Kennedy
If Margaret Thatcher wins on Thursday, I warn you not to be ordinary, I warn you not to be young, I warn you not to fall ill, and I warn you not to grow old. Neil Kinnock
I confirm it is my intention to let my name to go forward for a second ballot. Margaret Thatcher
Excuse me one second. I’m so sorry to interrupt you. Mike, you know I wouldn’t do this if it weren’t big. Florida goes for Al Gore. Dan Rather, ABC News
We call Florida in the Al Gore column. CNN News
If there is a state-wide recount, under every scenario Gore won the election. Jeffrey Toobin, CNN News
cf.
Do you know something, we are going to win the state of Florida. You can mark my words. You can write it down. George W Bush, with Jeb Bush on plane
It is a special day for America. It is a day in which our nation confirms the fact that we trust democracy. A peaceful transference of power. George W Bush
The first most important thing that the American people should remember is how George Bush came to the White House. One: through fraud; and two: through buying the election. Cynthia McKinney, D Georgia
In November 2000, the Republicans stole from America our most precious right of all: the right to free and fair elections ... Now President Bush occupies the White House but with questionable legitimacy. Cynthia McKinney
Five months before the 2000 election Governor Jeb Bush moved to purge 57,000 people from the voting rolls, supposedly ex-felons. Orwell Rolls in His Grave 2003
CBS News killed the story on the basis of a denial by Governor Jeb Bush who was the target of the allegations. ibid.