Article: Why is Cong. Paul Hodes ignoring his constituents?

http://www.democracyfornewhampshire.com/node/view/4416

Hodes continues support of dangerous election reform legislation

In stubborn defiance of key constituency groups in the Granite State, Congressman Paul Hodes continues to support controversial federal election reform that, if passed, would turn New Hampshire's voting system on its head.

Congress has been trying to sell HR811, aka the "Holt Bill", aka "The Voter Con Act", as a "paper trail" bill. The bill indeed started out that way many years ago, but its promise of providing paper trails to the nation's election systems has morphed into a con, designed by industry special interests, guaranteed to take the voter out of the voting and deliver control of America's elections to the Executive Branch.

The Voter Con Act would codify secret vote counting technology into federal law, forbidding anyone but those "qualified" by the White House to even look at the software counting America's votes, and only then if they sign nondisclosure agreements making it a federal crime to reveal what they see.

The Voter Con Act would hand the keys of the secret vote counting technology to a White House agency, composed of four White House appointees who would control the nation's voting systems.

The Voter Con Act, with its complex and bureaucratic requirements, and its mandate for new, untested and expensive voting technology, would cost New Hampshire property tax payers millions of dollars every year for the next twenty years.

Mr. Hodes has been asked to withdraw his support of this reckless legislation by The New Hampshire City and Town Clerks Association, the New Hampshire Secretary of State, the New Hampshire Fair Elections Committee, and even Granny D herself.

Mr. Hodes has been provided extensive analysis on the damaging effects this legislation will have on our nation, on New Hampshire, and to our municipal taxpayers.

So why does he continue to support it?

Hodes' decision to break off fair representation of his constituency is explained in a Dear John letter received by one voter as shown below.

If the US House, with the help of NH Representative Hodes, passes this bill, then New Hampshire will be looking to our Senatorial delegation to stop the bill in the Senate and eliminate the mess this legislation could cause.

Hodes' Dear John letter:

July 26, 2007

Dear Voter,

Thank you for contacting me about H.R. 811, the Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2007. I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts with me.

The Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2007 would require all states to use paper ballots to increase voter confidence. This legislation would also increase standards for accessibility for disabled voters, and those who require help casting a ballot. H.R. 811 passed the Committee on House Administration by a vote of 6 to 3 on May 8, 2007.

I am currently a co-sponsor of this legislation, because I believe that voter confidence is essential to our democracy. The use of paper ballots would allow better accountability to the voters and help to guarantee that every vote is counted. I intend to monitor any concerns of my constituents and New Hampshire state officials closely to inform my position on this bill. At this time, I look forward to voting to pass this important legislation in the United State House of Representatives.

Thank you again for sharing your thoughts with me. If you would like information on this or any other issue, visit my website at http://hodes.house.gov. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future to express your views or if I can be of help on any matter.

Sincerely,

Paul Hodes

Member of Congress