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Boxer, Dodd Introduce 11th Hour Emergency Paper Ballot Legislation In Senate!
Update Wed 8:30 a.m.: Russ Feingold is the 3rd Senate sponsor as the story makes the NY Times (and quotes Brad!).
Thanks in part to emails from over 7,000 9,497 Democrats.com activists, Brad Friedman's Emergency Paper Ballot bill was introduced today!
Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) introduced emergency legislation to amend the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) this morning to offer funding to states and counties who make 'contingency paper ballots' available to voters to be used at the voter's option instead of electronic voting systems.
The so-called contingency ballots would be counted as normal ballots, as opposed to Provisional Ballots which must be vetted first to determine the accuracy of the voter's registration. Provisional ballots are frequently counted only several days after Election Day, and often, not at all. The Senate legislation, however, does not spell that out specifically.
The BRAD BLOG has learned from a source currently working on similar legislation in the House, set to be filed there shortly, will include such specific language. Several Capitol Hill sources have confirmed that such legislation is currently in the works. We hope to have more details on the Houes version later today...
With just 4, or so, legislative days left in this Congress before they break for their Election Recess, it'll be no easy feat to see the bill passed by both the House and Senate before they leave. But given the stakes, and the bi-partisan call across the country for such a measure, we hope the Congress can act with the speed appropriate for a bill so important to, at least, helping to mitigate the train wreck that our democracy may be headed for this November 7th.
If you haven't emailed your Representatives yet, please do so now:
http://democrats.com/peoplesemailnetwork/86
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Hawaii already has a "paper
Hawaii already has a "paper ballot" law on the books:
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2005/bills/HB1740_sd2_.htm
This bill was signed into law on July 6, 2005. Now it's up to the rest of the country to follow suit.
Good For Them!
This is one of the most important issues we have facing us. The Republican's refusal to pass this bill should be brought up loudly and often. Demand an answer from them on why they won't agree to it, and mention Diebold again and again. Do what you have to, but make sure the people's vote is counted. It is their Constitutional right: one person, one vote.
It may be too little too
It may be too little too late, but I of course signed the petition and think it is great news that a grassroots idea made it to Capitol Hill so fast!
Let's hope for the best!
"If being liberal means critical thinking and informed dissent, instead of blind obedience and ignorant nationalism, then I am all for it!"
The only real question about the Boxer/Dodd bill...
is why did it take our leadership so long to get to this. We have known since 2000 that the machines either don't work...or are manipulated.
Pencil and paper ballots work better than anything else.
A mind once expanded can never return to its original dimensions.
Anne Hathaway: 1556-1623
The greatest derangement of the mind is to believe in something because one wishes it to be so.
Louis Pasteur
Oregon has a wonderful system.
Oregon has polls where people can go to vote if they choose, but the majority of Oregonians vote using our vote by mail system. However, the rest of the nation needs protection from continued voting machine error and fraud.
- Surviving Bush one day at a time.
Here is an action link
from 'True Majority Action'
to help push this through.
http://www.truemajorityaction.org/
Why not promote use of absentee ballots?
California, like many states, has a convenient absentee ballot system.
Voters can even sign up for permanent absentee status. The ballot comes in the mail, and is returned in the mail.
Why not use the Internet to urge more folks to vote this way? They can aviod the trek to the polling place, and avoid the risks of being duped by the machines there.
William J. Kelleher, Ph.D.
Author of Progressive Logic