An urgent letter has been sent today to the Governors, Secretaries of State and State Election Directors of all 50 states urging them to immediately create and implement plans and procedures for allowing the use of Emergency Paper Ballots at every local jurisdiction during this November’s general election.
The missive, signed by a broad coalition of more than 50 Election Integrity Advocate groups, congressional members, elections officials, computer scientists, attorneys and journalists comes on the heels of Federal legislation recently introduced in both the U.S. House and Senate. Those bills, which were not brought up for a vote before Congress adjourned for the Election Recess, called for funding to states who implement plans to provide Emergency Paper Ballots. The legislation was introduced in the wake of recent primary elections around the country where voters were unable to cast a vote due to failure, malfunction, or other inability of electronic voting systems.
The two-page letter [PDF] (also posted in full at the end of this article) was signed by individuals such as: Sen. Barbara Boxer, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Sen. John Kerry, Rep. Rush Holt, Leon County, FL Supervisor of Elections Ion Sancho, OH elections attorney Cliff Arnebeck and University of Iowa computer scientist Doug Jones. Organizations signed on include: Common Cause, VerifiedVoting.org, VotersUnite.org, BlackBoxVoting.org, VoterAction.org, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, MoveOn.org, TrueMajorityAction.org and many other national, state and local Election Integrity advocate groups.
“No legally registered voter should ever be told to ‘come back later,’ or be forced to use a provisional ballot simply because a voting system is unavailable to them at the time they are able to vote,” the letter reads. “It is imperative that an ample supply of Emergency Paper Ballots be made available to account for any unforeseen circumstance.”
The letter continues, “All voters must have the option to vote on an Emergency Paper Ballot if necessary and all such ballots must be counted as regular — not provisional — ballots.”
As well, it’s pointed out that some states already have certain procedures required by law to ensure that registered voters are allowed to vote, in the event that primary balloting procedures break down. Officials are urged to check those requirements and otherwise “draft, establish and publicize your own state’s common-sense plans for Emergency Paper Ballots at every polling place this Nov. 7th, so that every election official, poll worker, and voter may be crystal clear on the procedures for utilizing such measures.”
The movement calling on states to create Emergency Paper Ballot plans began just three weeks ago when The BRAD BLOG first called on the U.S. Congress to introduce and pass legislation in order to ensure that legally registered voters would not be turned away from the polls without being allowed to vote, as has been the case for thousands of voters in a number of states this year due to voting machines that failed to start up, were misprogrammed, failed during voting or, in some cases, hadn’t been brought to polling places at all until several hours after polls were to have opened.
Many voters were either told to “come back later” or given Provisional Ballots, which are not counted as normal ballots on Election Night and frequently not counted at all.
Legislation for Emergency Ballots was introduced the following week in the U.S. Senate by Senators Boxer, Christopher Dodd, Russ Feingold and Kerry. A matching House version was filed the next day by Rep. Rush Holt and co-sponsored by 28 other House members. As well, Feingold and Kerry introduced a “Sense of the Senate” resolution calling for same, but that effort was also never brought up for a vote on the floor before the recess.
The letter, drafted by this journalist along with a number of other signatories, was sent to all recipients via return-receipt requested certified mailing this morning by VelvetRevolution.us. [DISCLOSURE: The BRAD BLOG is a co-founder of VR.]
With the failure of Congress to pass such crucial legislation prior to this November’s important general election, the effort now moves to the State and Local level. Organizations and individuals are called on to contact their State and Local Elections officals to assure that plans are in place to accommodate any and all unforeseen circumstances.
Alluding to Americans who have fought for and defended the right to vote in the past, and indeed to this day around the globe, the letter concludes: “Our vote is our precious franchise. We believe it is worth defending, and worth the effort to guarantee that that right remains assured and inviolate.”
Progressive Democrats of America (PDA), one of the initial signatories, has created an online petition for citizens to urge their Secretaries of State and Governors to ensure such plans and procedures are created and implemented immediately. Take action by clicking here…
The open letter, sent to all State Governors, Secretaries of State and State Election Directors calling for Emergency Paper Ballot plans and procedures and signed by 55 organizations and individuals, can be downloaded here [PDF]. It also follows below in full…
Honorable Governor, Secretary of State & State Election Director:
As you likely know, many legally registered American voters across the country were turned away from polling places without being able to cast a ballot this year. In state after state, voters were unable to exercise their franchise simply because electronic voting systems malfunctioned, suffered programming problems, or were otherwise unavailable for use.
We are sure you’ll agree that should never happen in this country. No legally registered voter should ever be turned away from the polls without being allowed to vote on Election Day in America. No legally registered voter should ever be told to “come back later,” or be forced to use a provisional ballot simply because a voting system is unavailable to them at the time they are able to vote. It is imperative that an ample supply of Emergency Paper Ballots be made available to account for any unforeseen circumstance.
Common-sense legislation for Emergency Paper Ballots at the polling place this November was recently filed in both the U.S. House and Senate. The proposed legislation would have:
- Mandated that voters be given a paper ballot upon request
- Required election officials to post information announcing and confirming that right at each polling place, and
- Mandated that all such paper ballots be counted as regular, not provisional, ballots.
Unfortunately, legislators were unable to pass this important measure before adjourning for the Election Recess. Now the responsibility for this vital democratic process must rest on the States and Counties to ensure that millions of Americans will be able to cast their ballots in the general election on November 7th.
Many of your state’s citizens and polling places will be using new electronic voting systems for the first time. Such systems have already caused unforeseen problems this year, resulting in disenfranchised voters from Maryland to California, from Texas to Indiana to many other states and counties around the union.
In Maryland, the Governor recently called for Emergency Paper Ballots statewide after catastrophic problems in their recent primary. In Texas and Arkansas, election officials wisely instructed their counties to have Emergency Paper Ballots on hand during runoff elections after thousands were unable to vote during primaries, or when voting machine companies failed to program balloting systems properly.
In America, in 2006, such occurrences should never have happened, and we write to you hoping that you will take every measure to ensure they do not happen anywhere in your state this November.
Therefore, we, the undersigned groups and individuals, strongly urge you to make contingency plans and procedures to ensure that every legally registered American voter can vote in the upcoming general election. All voters must have the option to vote on an Emergency Paper Ballot if necessary, and all such ballots must be counted as regular — not provisional — ballots.
We hope that your state and every county therein will take careful, yet aggressive measures to institute plans for ample Emergency Paper Ballots, to be made available in every voting jurisdiction.
Several states have laws in place requiring the use of emergency paper ballots for voters if voting equipment is unavailable or has malfunctioned. Many more states and counties, however, do not have such provisions. In addition, many poll workers are unaware of such state laws and elections code.
So many Americans have fought and died in this country and around the world — and indeed, are fighting today ““ in the defense of our most basic freedoms, to ensure the right to freely cast a vote and thus determine the consent of the governed in this great democracy. Our vote is our precious franchise. We believe it is worth defending, and worth the effort to guarantee that that right remains assured and inviolate.
We urge you to please take this opportunity to draft, establish and publicize your own state’s common-sense plans for Emergency Paper Ballots at every polling place this Nov. 7th, so that every election official, poll worker, and voter may be crystal clear on the procedures for utilizing such measures.
With Great Respect,
The Undersigned
| ORGANIZATIONS 51CapitalMarch.com AUDIT-AZ BlackBoxVoting.org Broward Election Reform Coalition Citizens for Election Integrity Minnesota Citizens for Legitimate Government Coalition for Peace Action, Princeton NJ Coloradoans for Voting Integrity Common Cause Democrats.com Election Defense Alliance (EDA) Election Reform Network Florida Fair Elections Coalition Georgians for Verified Voting Iowans for Voting Integrity Las Vegas, NM Peace and Justice Center MoveOn.org Political Action National Coalition on Black Civic Participation National Committee for Voting Integrity National Election Data Archive NetworkOfCitizens.org New Yorkers for Verified Voting Ohio Honest Elections Campaign Palm Beach Coalition for Election Reform Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) SAVE Our Votes: Secure, Accessible, Verifiable Elections for MD Solarbus.org TrueMajorityAction.org |
TrueVoteMD INDIVIDUALS |
Outstanding work, Brad!
Your legislation did not come up for a vote. What a big Surprise!
The RNC defeats the Voter Rights Advocates once again and remains undefeated in head to head compitition.
Keep up the good work Brad. Maybe some day all of your hard work will begin to pay off.
Thanks Brad, I’m ready to sign the online petition. Just show me the link and consider it done.
OT, Brad, another swiftie group, Americans for Honesty on Issues
“The New York Times reported that Sue Walden, the leader of Americans for Honesty on Issues, is “a close ally of Tom DeLay”. Walden “has also raised money for President Bush and served as an adviser to Kenneth L. Lay, the former chief executive of Enron who died in July.” When reporter John Broder sought a comment from Walden he was referred to Glenn M. Willard, “a lawyer with Patton Boggs in Washington, who drew up the papers establishing the organization.”
And, “The organization’s address is for a mailbox service located in a UPS store at 107 South West Street in Alexandria, Virginia. This address was provided
(http://forms.irs.gov/politicalOrgsSearch/search/
searchDrillDown.jsp?ck&pacId=%2725114%27&criteriaName=%27
Americans%2Bfor%2BHonesty%2Bon%2BIssues%27)
{Ed Note: If you want to go to that url, you need to cut and paste all three lines into your address bar, or type it all in. –99}
by the organization to the Internal Revenue Service.”
Link
OOps, sorry {Ed Note: No prob. –99}
Comment to Bill Young: You wrote:
“Your legislation did not come up for a vote. What a big Surprise! … Keep up the good work Brad. Maybe some day all of your hard work will begin to pay off.”
We need to look at things in a very different way if we are to succeed in taking back our government. First, we need to stop chasing the knockout punch and concentrate on landing effective blows, as Brad does day in and day out.
And next, deal yourself in to the phrase “your hard work.” This is a WE the People deal. The founders didn’t say “Brad, the People.”
This needs a swarm of 10,000 imaginations. I just spoke with a gentleman on radio who does a show for African American Businessmen. I like how he reworked the old “Democracy is not a spectator sport” phrase.
“Democracy is a contact sport,” he says.
It’s not about reading what someone else is doing, or even signing a petition. It’s about taking personal accountability to engage in effective action to oversee our government. For about 40 years, we haven’t been doing much of that. Now we’re paying the price.
But at least it’s not too late — even if we might have already lost our democracy, as long as the U.S. is still pretending we have one, We, the People are in a position of strategic power.
We just have to flex those muscles.
Bev Harris
Founder – Black Box Voting
Just watched Robin Williams at Georgetown with Chris Matthews – of course, they said that there’s “no democracy” when one has to question whether his vote is counted. They predicted that the system would still be “broke” in 06 and would only be legitimate, with accountable paper trails, by 08 if people became dedicated to it’s accomplishment.
Robin’s best line, however, when asked what he thought of Bush was that Bush was “the greatest gift to comedy” in the world. I guess that will be W’s legacy??
OT
Brought up from earlier thread – clink link to go there:
It seems there is a question about Bilbray and shall we say CONGRESSMAN FRAUD?
“Clink Link”?
Damn, I’m a poet!
When you vote, be very careful, because if you have anything sharp in your hand while you vote (a sharp nail file or a very sharp pen) and you scratch it on the surface of the screen, you might disable the functioning of the touch-screen system.
If you are first into the voting booth and this happened, nobody else would be able to use that machine all day.
Oh, and if you should find a machine disabled, don’t be shy about saying “this machine isn’t working.” Maybe they will let you have a second machine to vote on.
Now THAT is playing contact sports Bev.
Because, I will tell you, that if all we do is just get “lots of evidence of problems in video and stills” but don’t DESTROY THEIR MACHINES, we will have nothing on November 8 but a bunch of illegal Republicans being “installed” by Dennis Hassert in D.C. If Bev Harris thinks the courts will give a flying F on November 9, no matter what “solid proof” we have, then she doesn’t understand Corporate Fascism any more now than she did in 2004 when she said that election fraud was a non-partisan issue, which it never was, because while Democrats have been known to steal a vote here and there, they never stole multiple national elections en-masse.
I would do it, but here in Oregon we vote by mail and then let our paper ballots be counted by ES&S and Sequoia (thank GOD for our SOS — the most Stand-up guy in the whole country).
Let’s play on November 7 like our lives depend on it, because they probably DO!
Charlie L
Portland, OR
CLL2001@gmail.com
Good post, Bev. Right on the spot.
It’s not about reading what someone else is doing, or even signing a petition. It’s about taking personal accountability to engage in effective action to oversee our government. For about 40 years, we haven’t been doing much of that. Now we’re paying the price.
But at least it’s not too late “” even if we might have already lost our democracy, as long as the U.S. is still pretending we have one, We, the People are in a position of strategic power.
As of last week, we are close to not “still pretending” (Military Commissions Act)– all the more reason to take democracy into our own hands.
We can survive this hell and even prosper and grow in the midst. “It’s a great life, if you don’t weaken.” (John Buchan) It’s true. Thank you and Brad and all the election integrity movement for not weakening.
Outstanding work Brad!!! Might have to go Foley on you and give you a big F*cking kiss someday.
GBD
(proud example of a hetero male)
i doubt i’m on a short list of personal heroes but you just made it onto mine.
The 1st time i got kissed by a dude was about a 2 weeks ago at a wedding i attended. Towards the end of the celebration, one of the Jackass dudes was there and he hit me up walzing to “November Rain.” While i don’t think we will ever get the invite onto Dancing with the Stars, i would have much rather have been kissed by his girlfriend if i had to relive the experience.
Watch out at those personal appearances!
While I have filled out many petitions over the last couple of years and recieved the typical form letter back, I recently sent a personal email to Barbra Boxer when she and the others introduced their legislation into the Senate. I sent it to the email address listed on her website rather than the one used by the petitions.
Just the other day I received a reply which seems to be an actual reply rather than a form letter.
It did not have the format of the auto-replies I’ve received in the past and even addressed me by my full name rather than Dear Constituent
She thanked me for complimenting her, spoke of the unability to get it to a vote and promised to persue the issue in the future sessions.
I see she is now taking another route to persue it as well.
Go Barbra!
Thanks Again.
And thanks Brad for getting the ball rolling!
Two questions for Charlie L:
Why do you think we are collecting evidence for lawsuits?
And why do you think everyone who calls themselves a Democrat will behave like one when put in office?
This is lso an issue of corporate control vs. control by the people. If you think corporate money only affects Republican decisionmaking, that’s worth rethinking. And if you think only Republicans are DEPENDENT on corporate financing, that’s worth a look at the FEC contribution databases.
Bluebear ““ Some time ago, I also received a reply from Barbara Boxer that seemed like the real thing. (Most of the time, of course, she doesn’t have time for personal replies.) It concerned an issue where I disagreed with her official position. (I don’t disagree often.) Her reply was so heartfelt in its explanation of why she felt she had to take the position despite her obvious agreement that democracy was in terrible, desperate trouble”¦My respect for her went way up even though we differed on that particular issue.
Hope she’s president someday. A short, Jewish, environmentally-conscious, progressive-sympathizing woman – that’s the ticket!
Excellent work, Brad. I hope you’ll post information on the actions by states and citizens to get these measures in place. I’m a citizen and a person and I want everyone to be able to vote who wants to- it should be easy and all ballots should be counted.
The “leaders” fear Public opinion and the People’s will; that’s why they lie so much about what they do.
Poll shows 92% of Americans want right to see ballots counted
http://www.rawstory.com/news/20...want_0821.html
Nice job Brad.
BTW, I found yesterday that Contra Costa County is planning sleepovers of up to a week for their ESS m100 voting machines!
We are truly a Banana Republic
It is a Shame that they (Republicans) think they can Manipulate the vote and keep their Power by pulling Voting Scams like this every election day Then lie and Manipulate and have the courts bail them out on Doctored results.
Keep up the good work!!!
No wonder the republicans thought they would keep the House despite their poor showing in the polls. Read waynemadsenreport re. Andrew Card’s second cousin going to prison because she was a cia asset and knew Iraq had no wmds.Colin Powell was instrumental in getting her hauled off to jail so they could continue on with the weapons of mass deception. This Nov. won’t be so easy for our fascist repub. administration and gang of criminals in the House.
Impressive list of supporters. I hope the governors are going to take notice. I signed the petition.
The heart of a democracy is an election system that people have faith in. Restore faith in our elections!
that if all we do is just get “lots of evidence of problems in video and stills” but don’t DESTROY THEIR MACHINES, we will have nothing on November 8 but a bunch of illegal Republicans being “installed” by Dennis Hassert in D.C. If Bev Harris thinks the courts will give a flying F on November 9, no matter what “solid proof” we have, then she doesn’t understand Corporate Fascism any more now than she did in 2004 when she said that election fraud was a non-partisan issue, which it never was, because while Democrats have been known to steal a vote here and there, they never stole multiple national elections en-masse.
FYI
I am on the ballot as an Independent candidate for Virginia’s 6th Congressional district. No Democrat is running because ‘they couldn’t find anyone good looking enough or with deep enough pockets’. Trying to break through the media is impossible without lots of money. Anyway just wanted to let you know that I am supporting this initative everywhere I can.
Barbara Jean Pryor http://www.barbarajeanpryorforcongress.com
Don’t let your guard down and consider this a done deal. Maryland just ordered 1.6 million paper ballots just in case (sounds good so far?)…and they will be produced by Diebold…and treated as provisionals. What is it they don’t get? So with provisionals do they notify you if your vote didn’t count? Will they say later when they are counting them that you already voted electronically because the epoll book says so? Sorry, I’ve no faith.
If you people think that you can beat these criminals at their own game, God help you. They have been planning and perfecting this for decades. Don’t compromise yourselves by getting sucked into the blackness.
I believe our forefathers left us the road map of what to do!
Thanks Brad and All. I signed the petition. My daughter is going to see Rendell on Monday maybe she could hand him a copy.
The time has come to get to work on a “STAND ALONE FEDERAL ELECTION”. It will not be easy to get done, but will be simple and very easy for everyone to understand.
The only items on the ballot to be “PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT” , “SENATOR” AND “CONGRESSMAN”.
State issues, together with County and City issues to be decided at a different time.
There need not be voting machines at all, as a hand count will be simple, accuracy being more important than speed.
Lets catch up with the rest of the world and try and get this done.
Roy Benstead #27
That’s something to think about. Keeping it simple never hurts!
# 23 — Barbara Jean Pryor — Much appreciated by all of us. Best of luck in your race. Looks like a good American platform to me.
Dear “COMMON SENSE” at ss.ca.gov,
Is this for real, have you finally realised the error of your ways? I doubt it, but I WILL TRY TO GIVE YOU ADVISE!
You hella didn’t address my issues two years ago, You didn’t address my issues recently, you ignored my flowchart, never the less, I will now give you common sense advise on how to fix this damned electronic voting problem. And you can impliment it before it’s too late.
1.) Put the ALL the god damn electronic voting machines under a steam roller. e.g. destroy them completely, it’s over, they suck.
2.) Get rid of this show your ID crap. unless you plan to
a.) FORCE ALL STATES to give out free Identifications to folks who are indigent, or just don’t have the money at the time.
b.) supply those with stolen identities (such as myself via the VA database) with a NEW identity. Hell, I wouldn’t mind changing my name as well! I got that letter from the VA!
c.) Add more digits to the SSN program so that those with stolen identitys can change their SSN. If you mailed a god damn ballot to a god damn address then you know the person walking in to vote is the real one!!!
d.) DESTROY ALL DATABASES OF LEGIT CITIZENS THAT YOU ARE SNOOPING ON. Oversight by all political parties of all snooping, wiretapping. If this can be used politically, then we live in a dictatorship.
a.) RESTORE THE US CONSTITUTION UNLESS YOU ARE A DOMESTIC TERRORIST.
2.) REMOVE ALL ELECTRICITY FROM THE VOTING PROCESS!!!
a.) No Networks
b.) No Telcos
c.) No memory chips
d.) No software
e.) No digitized data
f.) No Electronics of any kind
e.) No Electricity of any kind
f.) Vote Under the SUNLIGHT IN FULL VIEW OF ALL PARTIES CONCERNED FOR AS MANY DAYS AS IT TAKES.
g.) Prosecute the corruption.
h.) Educate against this in the future!
3.) Drug test for Meth all people that work for ATT/COMCAST or any other communications corporations, or companies, or government agencies.
4.) Appologise. Admit you screwed up. Make things right with all you screwed over, and make a NATIONAL LAW to remove ELECTRICITY from elections NATIONALLY PERMANENTLY.
5.) Vote on PAPER BALLOTS UNDER THE SUN AS LONG AS IT TAKES TO GET ALL THE VOTES MARKED AND COUNTED.
6.) Revoke the licenses of all MEDIA that refused to cover this issue.
7.) Revoke the security clearances immediatly of ANYONE that was elected under this system!
Okay…Most of Your comments (#30 + 31), Phil, are things most of us have thought of and wished we could play God-for-a-day and simply implement. I’m not sure who the “Common Sense” to whom you addressed your list is, but perhaps I missed something.
A few of your suggestions were somewhat extreme or
practically impossible, but the one that puzzled me most is #3 quoted below:
“3.) Drug test for Meth all people that work for ATT/COMCAST or any other communications corporations, or companies, or government agencies.”
What would this accomplish? Or is this a personal reference of some sort? I assume you mean “methamphetamine,” but:
Why only that drug?
why any drug at all- in relation to the issue of Election Integrity in particular?
(People don’t need to be using drugs to screw things up, make life for others miserable. I suspect that the individuals we need to get out of government are vigorously anti-drug, despite the fact that so many tend to abuse their drug-of-choice, ALCOHOL!
They’re the ones who waste tax money on “War” on a relatively harmless drug, Marijuana, and whose ridiculous laws have ruined countless lives of decent people who made one mistake-
sometimes indirectly, by association, and unknowingly.
The Administration and most Republicans are the holier-than-thou hypocrites who want terminally ill patients and their doctors in jail for utilizing a medically-accepted treatment.)
Why ATT/COMCAST?
What is it you’re implying?
Just wondering…
Why METH? A guess.
These communications people are dealing with communications, and government databases and or entrance to government computers. They (The corporation) felt it necessary to give up your data without a court order. Then their employees should be background checked, and drug tested. After all, they bridged the gap before the gap was removed by our wonderful president. Who knows what they might be doing. Could it be political? Could it be worse?
Keep an eye on em, see if you LEARN something.
If there’s nothing to LEARN then they should not worry right?! RIGHT?
Oh and you asked HOW it relates to voting. Hmm, let’s see, they are at the splice area and vaults and other secure area’s of our networks. Hmm, wanna re-think your question now? GIGO
What if your voting poll has trucks working on electricity and communications while you are voting? Do you like that Idea? Do you REALLY KNOW what they are doing?
And since you got me going this far. How about the power distribution folks. What happens if there are specially crafted gaps in power or frequency? Couldn’t that set off a logic bomb?! Don’t tell me no.
Call me paranoid. I don’t give a shit.
You want to vote electronically? You better cover every god damned chip, resistor, cap, coil, everything from point a to point b 100% of the time!
What’s that you can’t do it? You say your not a GOD?
You can’t destructively reverse engineer every part from point a to point b in real time?
Then you just blew a hole in your own electronic voting technology.
ELECTRONIC VOTING IS CLEARLY AN ABUSE OF TECHNOLOGY.
THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE REASON FOR IT’S USE.
Oh, and, well, of course, Phil’s right, you know.
my county uses diebold to count its paper ballots …when the recount was requested all my county did was re-read the numbers off the machine .wasnt any hand count .a lot of people do not know die bold makes the machines that count the paper ballots .die bold dose not make our eletronic voting machines .how confusing dose it get ..whats the point of a paper ballot to avoid a hackable machine if a hack able machine counts the paper ballot ?seems to me a recount isnt a recount if they just reread the original numbers off the same hackable machines .
PERHAPS WE NEED TO GO BACK TO HAND COUNTING ALL THE VOTES AND JUST GIVE PEOPLE LITTLE SLIPS OF PAPER TO WRITE THEIR CHOICES ON .
In this day and time with the technology avalible to thoes in the know even your car is hackable,human beings are hackable …sattlites can see a knicel on your coffey table.electronical signels can be directed at any equipment and cause or control its function .this is called remote control, whole air planes can now be remote controled and they arent hooked up to the internet .technology as small as dust particals can moniter your location …distence is not a facter .knowing all of this we must still keep sight of the process of honest voting that we may SHOULD THE CIRCUMSTANCES EVER ARRIVE NEED TO remove a political faction from our government IN THE EVENT ,that IT is causeing and insighting a great deal of suffering for the planet and humanity .