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