Just One Senator!

On January 6 2001, 14 Representatives led by the Congressional Black Caucus filed written motions (prepared by Democrats.com) challenging Florida's Bush Electors, a scene made famous at the beginning of Fahrenheit 9-11. But no Senators were willing to join them, so there was no debate.

Activists must begin lobbying their Senators now to support a challenge to Bush's Ohio Electors on January 6. Click here to eFAX 20 targeted Senators.

You can also write your own letter, using these sample letters.

Below is a list of likely Senators, along with the groups who are lobbying them and any statements they have made. Democratic Underground, the Coalition Against Election Fraud, No Stolen Elections/United Progressives for Democracy, thedeanpeople, and Progressive Democrats of America are also organizing a state-by-state lobbying effort.

AZ: John McCain (R)

AR: Blanche Lincoln (D) - hiding behind GAO investigation bull****

From: Correspondence_Reply@lincoln.senate.gov
Date: Tue, 21 Dec 2004

As you know, a request was recently made by several members of the U.S. House of Representatives for the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to undertake an investigation of the efficacy of voting machines and new technologies used in the 2004 election. Furthermore, it requested an inquiry into how election officials responded to difficulties they encountered as well as what we can do in the future to improve our election systems and administration.

I am concerned by many of the reports included in the request which cited numerous problems with electronic voting machines, lost votes, and excessively long lines at polling places. In this modern, computerized age, there is absolutely no excuse for database errors, lack of polling-place education and training, and equipment malfunctions that resulted in throwing out tens of thousands of legally-cast ballots around the country.

The right to vote freely is the foundation of democracy and we must do all we can to ensure every vote is counted and recorded accurately. That is why I recently helped introduce the Restore Elector Confidence in Our Representative Democracy (RECORD) Act, S. 2313. This Act contains a provision to strengthen security measures for electronic voting devices to prevent outside tampering and requires a paper printout of votes cast at electronic voting machines. This printout will permit a voter to verify the accuracy of his or her ballot before it is cast and would require the voting system to preserve the paper printout of the voter's ballot as the individual permanent paper record. This printout would be preserved at the polling site for use in any audits and recounts.

Like you, I believe voters must have faith in the electoral process for our democracy to succeed. You can be certain that I will monitor the GAO investigation and will continue to support efforts to ensure faith and integrity in our voting systems.

AR: Mark Pryor (D)

CA: Barbara Boxer (D) - Contest The Vote

1/3/05 UPI

A spokesman for Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., meanwhile, said the office had received a number of petitions Monday but would not comment on how Boxer intended to vote on the certification.

CO: Ken Salazar (D)

CT: Chris Dodd (D)

CT: Joe Lieberman (D)

DE: Joe Biden (D)

DE: Tom Carper (D)

FL: Bill Nelson (D)

1/03 BlueLemur

Nelson’s press office, however, says the senator has decided against joining a congressional challenge absent conclusive evidence “to warrant overturning the results.”

“Senator Nelson believes valid concerns have been raised about the conduct of the election, but that no conclusive evidence has been presented to warrant overturning the results,” Nelson press office spokesperson Nicole Berckes told RAW STORY in an email. “Absent such evidence, Senator Nelson doesn’t at this time feel he can support a congressional challenge.”

“Meantime, he’s awaiting the findings by several government agencies that are investigating allegations of voter irregularities,” she added. “And in the upcoming session of Congress, he intends to file legislation to further improve our election process.”

HI: Dan Akaka (D)

HI: Daniel Inouye (D)

IA: Charles Grassley (R)

IA: Tom Harkin (D)

IL: Richard Durbin (D)

1/3/05 UPI

In response to an e-mail message from a friend involved in the recount movement, Durbin thanked him for his interest but wrote that with the Ohio vote certified, "It is clear that Sen. Kerry was correct in announcing his concession on November 3rd."

"The basic test hasn't been met," said spokesman Joe Shomaker. "There is no compelling evidence of massive voter fraud." He added that Durbin is a strong proponent of electoral reform and supports abolishing the Electoral College but said that "tilting at the windmills" about November's outcome would not help his credibility on the issue.

No amount of petitions, faxes or phone calls would likely change Durbin's stance, he said.

IL: Barack Obama (D)

1/5 Washington Times

Mr. Obama said his staff is reviewing the Ohio resolution, but said he has not decided whether he will sign it. "The election is over and President Bush won fair and square, so I don't think we need to challenge the election, but we continue to have chronic problems in our voting system," he said. "Some of the practices in Ohio were clearly illegal and disenfranchised voters and, let's be real about this, some Republicans were denied their rights to vote as well."

IN: Evan Bayh (D)

IN: Richard Lugar (R)

LA: Mary Landrieu (D)

MA: Ted Kennedy (D)

MA: John Kerry (D) - Coalition Against Election Fraud - MIA

1/4/05 Kerry's two-week overseas trip, which includes stops in war-ravaged Iraq, conveniently allows the defeated Democrat nominee to avoid a potentially awkward moment on the House floor as congressmen vote to certify election results.

``(Kerry) wants to personally thank our troops for their service, focus on the steps that must be taken to achieve success in Iraq and hear from experts in the region,'' Kerry spokeswoman April Boyd said.

``While he conceded the election on Nov. 3, he is still very passionate about having every vote count,'' Boyd said.

MD: Barbara Mikulski (D)

MD: Paul Sarbanes (D)

ME: Susan Collins (R)

ME: Olympia Snowe (R)

MI: Carl Levin (D)

1/5 Oakland Press: Levin representative Vicki Selva said she could not speak for the senator's position on the issue, but said he is familiar with information about irregularities "and is open to any information or accounts or evidence." She said Levin and other senators face legal and other parameters in opposing the certification of electoral votes.

MI: Debbie Stabenow (D)

MN: Mark Dayton (D)

11/9 The election is over, and the voters have spoken. President Bush won a second term conclusively, albeit by a narrow margin of 51% to 48%.

While at Yale, Dayton was a fraternity brother of Bush at Delta Kappa Epsilon, where Bush was President.

MT: Max Baucus (D)

ND: Kent Conrad (D)

ND: Byron Dorgan (D)

NE: Chuck Hagel (R)

NE: Ben Nelson (D)

NJ: Jon Corzine (D) - thedeanpeople - met with staff on Dec. 23

NJ: Frank Lautenberg (D) - thedeanpeople - met with staff on Dec. 23

NM: Jeff Bingaman (D) - no

1/5 ABQJournal: "Sen. Kerry conceded the election on Nov. 3 and does not support Rep. Conyers' effort. I will follow his lead," Bingaman said. "But I do believe it is imperative to thoroughly review election practices in all 50 states to determine how to improve election laws and ensure that all eligible voters are able to cast ballots and that every vote is counted."

NV: Harry Reid (D)

NY: Hillary Clinton (D)

NY: Chuck Schumer (D)

OR: Ron Wyden (D) - Oregon Clean Vote - met with staff

RI: Lincoln Chafee (R)

RI: Jack Reed (D)

SD: Tim Johnson (D)

VT: Jim Jeffords (I) - Vermonters for Voting Integrity - no

1/4/05 I am deeply concerned about reported irregularities and flaws in the 2004 election, and I fully support efforts to find out what went wrong and make it right. A challenge to the Ohio Electors will not fix the problems at hand. We know that such a challenge will not affect the outcome of the election, and I fear it will only further polarize our political landscape. John Kerry has conceded this election, and we must now move forward in a constructive way. I believe the investigation by the non-partisan Goverment Accountability Office will provide needed answers.

In Congress, I will work to reform and clarify existing law, and push for the creation of a paper trail for electronic voting and a national standard for provisional ballots. These reforms are needed to assure that these problems are not repeated in future elections. People must have the utmost confidence that their votes will be counted.

VT: Pat Leahy (D) - Vermonters for Voting Integrity - no

1/05 Letter to constituents:

While I share in the disappointment of many with the results of this election, I was pleased to see such a high number of Americans turn out to vote. Since Senator John Kerry has conceded, I have no intention of contesting the results of the election. That being said, the U.S. Government Accountability Office is conducting a thorough investigation of all allegations concerning voter rolls and registrations, fraud, and election concerns, and I will certainly continue to pay close attention to this important issue.

Many Vermonters, after seeing Michael Moore's movie,  "Fahrenheit 9/11," contacted me raising questions and concerns  about the 12 members of the Congressional Black Caucus who  voiced their opposition to Florida's electors at the Joint Session of Congress convened for the ceremonial reading of the electoral votes. Several key events preceded the January 6, 2001 Joint Session of Congress, including: (1) the U.S. Supreme Court had ended the vote-counting in Florida with its decision in the case of Bush v. Gore, (2) the Electoral College had cast its votes, and (3) the Democratic candidate, Al Gore, had conceded. For an objection to be heard during this process, federal law states that the objection must be in writing and must be signed by at least one Senator and one Representative. Then-Vice President Gore met with the Congressional Black Caucus before January 6 and asked that they not object, telling its members that, had the objection been accepted, it merely would have opened the floor for debate and would not have altered the outcome. Problems with the election had already been debated for months and the decision had already been made, meaning that additional debate would not have changed the outcome of the election.

WA: Maria Cantwell (D)

WA: Patty Murray (D)

WI: Russ Feingold (D)

WI: Herb Kohl (D)

WV: Robert Byrd (D)

WV: Jay Rockefeller (D)