Rep. Rush Holt (NJ-12) Dr. Steve Freeman & Bruce O'Dell
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Part I: Rep. Holt describes how emergency bill can help avert 2008 election disaster U.S. Congressman Holt this week will introduce an emergency bill (see fundamental provisions below) that he says will address the lack of hand-marked paper ballots in certain states including Pennsylvania. As it stands, in disputed elections in some areas, the only figures available are what comes out of the machines. Will this bill avoid a repeat of the nightmare scenarios of Ohio and Florida in Pennsylvania and many other paperless states? According to Rep. Holt, the bill gives counties the option to replace paperless DREs with hand-marked paper ballots and gives them the funding to do so. Officials and activists who support the bill fear it may be weakened (radically rewritten) in committee, while others believe the measure doesn't go far enough or too far Will it be changed significantly in committee? Can it pass in time? Who supports/opposes...why? .What about DREs with paper? Part 2:Was the 2008 New Hampshire primary stolen? Dr. Steve Freeman, author of "Was the 2004 Election Stolen?" will discuss the controversies surrounding the January 4 New Hampshire primary. Dr. Freeman, a University of Pennsylvania professor, will provide an up-to-date analysis of post-election data. and be joined in discussion by Bruce O'Dell on current status, next steps and potential impact. As always, the incomparable John Gideon of Voters Unite will be on hand to share up-to-the-minute voting news and analysis you won't hear anywhere else. **************************************************** Voice of the Voters, hosted by Mary Ann Gould, is an hour devoted to voting rights and election reform. Ultimately it is an exploration of Representative Democracy itself and the responsibilities of citizens and their elected representatives. It airs every Wednesday night at 8:00 PM ET on 1360 AM and on the Internet. (http://wnjc.duxpond.com/) or www.voiceofthevoters.org Dial-up Internet users: Please turn off all other programs in order to receive clearest broadcast. Listeners can call in questions live at 856-227-1360 and submit questions in advance at the Voice of the Voters website. Archived Voice of the Voters shows are available here. www.voiceofthevoters.org "Democracy Begins With The Integrity Of OUR Voting Process..And Ends Without It" CVI |
Coal Fundamental Provisions of “Emergency Assistance for Secure Elections Act of 2008”
Reimbursement for Conversion to Paper Ballot Voting Systems · GSA will reimburse paperless jurisdictions that convert to paper-based voting systems in 2008; reimbursement would be available for the reasonable documented costs of providing a paper ballot voting system, including paper ballots, ballot marking stations, HAVA-compliant ballot marking devices, and precinct-based optical scanners · Determinations as to the reasonableness of the costs and the sufficiency of the number of devices and stations deployed will be made by the GSA in consultation with the EAC
Alternative Reimbursement for offering emergency paper ballots · Reimbursement for jurisdictions that use direct recording electronic voting system if they offer voters emergency paper ballots upon machine failure, provided the ballots are counted as regular, not provisional, ballots
Funding for Conversion to Paper Systems/Use of Emergency Ballots · Authorization: $500 million, available until expended
Reimbursement for Conducting Audits by Hand Count · Reimbursement for conducting audits which meet basic minimum requirements; reimbursement will be for the “documented reasonable costs” of the audit · Basic Minimum Requirements for Audits: o Random selection of audit units and hand counting of paper ballots, to be compared to corresponding electronic tallies o Election Auditor to be chosen by state but must have “independence” o Audit percentage: at least 3% or alternate sample that is at least as statistically effective o Commence within 48 hours of announcement of winner and complete (including resolving discrepancies and submitting audit report) before certification of results o Include all ballots associated with precinct being audited; include absentees o Additional audits if cause shown, at discretion of Election Auditor o Public observation must be allowed · Authorization: $100 million, available until expended
Reimbursement for Determining Result by Conducting Hand Count · Reimbursement for determining the outcome of the election by hand count of paper ballots · Basic Minimum Requirements for Hand Count: o Count all ballots by hand, on Election Day, without using electronic equipment or software o Include all ballots in the hand count, adding provisionals and absentees in as soon as eligibility is determined o At least two counters and one observer, and public observation must be allowed o Hand count determines winner, but recount laws are not pre-empted · Authorization: [TBD], available until expended ition for Voting Integrity |
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