There are many good provisions in the new election reform bill (HR 811 introduced by Congressman Rush Holt D-NJ), called the “Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2007.” There is significant momentum in the U.S. House to pass the bill as written; and it is on a "fast-track".
BUT, the bill allows the continued use of electronic "ballots" -- invisible data on a computer -- as the ballots of record. Democracy demands that voters can know the selections on their own ballots. This means all ballots must be cast on paper and only paper – no electronic ballots, which keep the ballot secret from the voter.
The members must hear from us - NOW - that the bill urgently needs an amendment to ban electronic ballots.
We are not seeking to "kill" the bill, but to gain support for an amendment banning electronic ballots and the use of Direct Record Electronic (DRE) voting machines, which create them. We believe we have a chance!
Here's what you can do: Go to the action alert at VotersUnite.Org ( http://www.votersunite.org/takeaction/ban-e-ballots.asp )and help us to educate our legislators. We hear that they are supporting the bill but they are not hearing from the voters that there are any problems. We all need to tell them what problems there are in the legislation. Please help.
BUT, the bill allows the continued use of electronic "ballots" -- invisible data on a computer -- as the ballots of record. Democracy demands that voters can know the selections on their own ballots. This means all ballots must be cast on paper and only paper – no electronic ballots, which keep the ballot secret from the voter.
The members must hear from us - NOW - that the bill urgently needs an amendment to ban electronic ballots.
We are not seeking to "kill" the bill, but to gain support for an amendment banning electronic ballots and the use of Direct Record Electronic (DRE) voting machines, which create them. We believe we have a chance!
Here's what you can do: Go to the action alert at VotersUnite.Org ( http://www.votersunite.org/takeaction/ban-e-ballots.asp )and help us to educate our legislators. We hear that they are supporting the bill but they are not hearing from the voters that there are any problems. We all need to tell them what problems there are in the legislation. Please help.
