Article: A Sensible Solution to the Election Integrity/Voting Machine Crisis? What do you think?

Finally someone's offering a sensible solution to the election integrity/voting machine crisis. Universal Precinct-based Handcount Sample (UPS). [Handcount 10% sample of paper ballot records, in every precinct, on election night, by citizens.] This as a preliminary step to final eradication of all voting machines, period. See: www.electiondefensealliance.org QUESTION: HOW can an individual or group compel their local Registrar of Voters to authorize a citizen group to conduct such an election night, in-precinct hand-count? Is there any way, or do we have to wait for a law to be passed (never). If there is a way for citizens to turn this idea into action, please let me know. Thanks, Norma

I thought the following story would be of interest to you.

An End to 'Faith-based' Voting: Computer Security and Statistical Analysts Describe a Simple, Powerful Alternative

To read the entire story, visit http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/9/prweb435167.htm.

I've been communicating about this question with a couple folks at http://www.electiondefensealliance.org (EDA) and reading their forum. So far I'm getting the sense that it would be worth it for citizen groups to give this a limited try in 2006 as a sort of dry run for 2008. Gather a group of local citizens, maybe get the support of a city council member or mayor, request the RoV to allow for a UPS 10% hand-count in just one or a few precincts, see what her objections are, try to resolve those objection..... Obviously, if we're going to try this, better get started now. Don't know if I've got enough team members and support... will have to start doing some talking and networking on this for a couple weeks, and see what comes of it.

Here is what Dan, at EDA had to say:

There is no way for citizen groups to get enabling legislation passed by any state in time to implement UPS for this election.

However, election administrators of the local electoral jurisdictions --counties, townships, etc.-- have wide discretion to implement additional

vote-counting verification procedures so long as they do not violate terms of existing election law.

Therefore, organized citizen pressure could conceivably move a county elections department to voluntarily adopt UPS, without the need for state legislation.

There is a great deal of resistant bureaucratic inertia to overcome, but this is a campaign that is worth undertaking to build awareness now, and start the momentum that can result in UPS implementation at the local level, one county at a time.

Once is an exception, twice is a pattern, three is a trend.