A solution to election fraud

[sunnystarr]

I'm still in knots over Hackett's stolen election. I'm still furious that the DNC continues to ignore the reality of stolen elections in spite of overwhelming evidence.

I've done all I can to support boycott movements appearing on DU of companies like Clear Channel and the businesses that support them. Yet we don't boycott the biggest injustice to our democracy.

It's time to consider sending a clear message to the DNC, the MSM, and the American people. When someone cheats do you still do business with them? If an employee cheats do you keep him/her on the payroll? From childhood we've learned that when you're being cheated you stop playing. Cheating at cards and stealing cattle used to get one shot. Now we roll over and moan and groan, complain and rant, and still continue to play again and again so that it can happen again and again, so that we can continue to moan and groan, and complain and rant. Aren't we all a little tired of it??

We have the '06 elections coming. If we see another stolen election then we have to stop playing. (I'd love to do it with the '06 election but I can wait if needed.)

I propose we organize and select one state where we will take a stand. Then have a grassroots movement urging every Democrat to stay home on election day - to not vote. Since we can't win in a fixed election, we're not losing a thing. But we can get a national message out there that our elections are being stolen.

The movement would have volunteers going door to door not only urging everyone to stay home but making sure to loudly say why. Spreading election fraud facts everywhere. We will loudly proclaim (as the song goes) "We're not gonna take it, NO we ain't gonna take it, We're not gonna take it anymore!"

I'm making my commitment now. I will be there with both feet on the ground no matter which state it is, no matter how long it takes.

"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." ... Albert Einstein

Let's get sane and do something different and unexpected.

[skids]

1. No, vote anyway.

See sig.

[sunnystarr]

4. I believe everyone should vote ...

That wasn't the point of my post. In fact I believe voting should be mandatory, a civic duty of every adult citizen. I also believe that poll workers should be handled like jury duty, drawing on registered voters who would have poll duty for that year's elections.

My point is that we have to do something that will actually put election fraud on the table as a national discussion. I'm not advocating this on a national level. Only a selected state, or even county. Someplace that our votes can be used to bring the facts to national attention - where even MSM can't ignore it.

[marions ghost]

6. I agree that we need a visibility effort...

to shed light on the election problems. Keep brainstorming and maybe a more realistic idea will surface. Not voting would not do anything to help us.

BTW I agree that voting should be mandatory, but there are so many infringements on our rights now that people don't really understand the concept and see it as yet another invasion. Actually it makes good sense, as long as the voter has the choice to leave any race blank. In the current climate this would not be supported. I don't think people realize how this would cure a lot of the problems associated with our byzantine voting system. Registration issues would be history, for one thing. And young people would become more involved. But you could only sell that idea at a time when people have more 'trust' in the govt--and that's not going to happen in the foreseeable future.

[stellanoir]

2. They won't care if we don't vote

They don't count our votes anyway so they'll continue to manipulate the numbers anyhow.

They'll only care if we stop paying taxes.

[catnhatnh]

3. You SERIOUSLY need help....N/T

[marions ghost]

5. not a good solution

though I sympathize with your feelings. "Don't vote Democrats"--just hands it to the opposition on a silver platter. And it sends a negative message to voters who we are always desperately trying to get TO the polls. How do you tell a minority voter who may have been the VICTIM of "stay home" disinfo tactics in the past--to stay home as a protest???

I agree we need to do something to bring attention to the problem--I'd rather see INCREASED presence at the polls by poll watchers and
groups concerned with voting integrity, to help ensure that voters get to vote without undue waiting or hassle. Some information being given out near the polling places (outside the "non-political" zone of course) would be good. It makes sense to start the info campaign before election day. Stickers that say things like "I voted...but does it count?" could be worn to the polls. Etc Etc...More action, rallies and such, more visibility --now that makes sense, but not staying away out of disgust. The Repubicans would LOVE it.

[PinkyisBlue]

10. Exit Polls and Paper Ballots

It's important to have reliable exit polling to compare those to the actual results. Isn't that how Ukrainians knew their last election was fraudulent, and why they demanded a new election and (surprise of surprises) a new leader was elected?
Paper ballots should be a given. If the exit polls are very different from the Diebold results, we should demand a new election.

[marions ghost]

11. yes these are things we want

--reliable exit polling by an independent polling group
--"paper ballots should be a given" as you say. I totally agree, but that's a hard sell when one third of the country uses electronic voting machines which have already been purchased thanks to HAVA.

Of course these are the keys to fair elections in this country, but how do you get people to support such changes, to demand those things??? First you have to get their attention. Many people don't even have any idea how bad the system is, thanks to very effective suppression efforts. The OP's point is--how to get the necessary visibility to the cause so that we have a chance of getting these MAJOR changes through? It's a good question.

[raincity_calling]

7. No Vote in One State

I find the suggestions somewhat appealing. If the goal is to get the attention of Democratic leadership, then this would scare the hell out of them. Of course, it would have to be in state (likely a southern state) where the Dems are likely to lose even in an honest election. We do need to do something bold and attention grabbing.

Just as an FYI, there is going to be an election reform conference in Portland Oregon in October. I don't have the date yet. We really need to mobilize around the country and act together as a unified movement, learning from each state's successes and failures.

Although this is not bold, I do intend to attend the anti-war/bush march in DC on Sept. 24. My sign will be related to this issue and not the war. It would be nice if we could get a large contingent of folks in the march focusing on the need for transparent elections.

[satya]

8. Couldn't we focus on getting everyone to request a paper ballot?

No, it wouldn't solve all the problems and there's no guarantee they'll be counted, but it's a start.

Edited to add: if you want to send a statement to the party, maybe pick a race we're sure to lose and have all the Dems vote for the 3rd party candidate (or write-in) on a paper ballot. Then see how many of those votes show up in the "official" tally.

[sunnystarr]

9. It isn't just bringing election fraud to national attention

My main focus of anger is feeling betrayed by the DNC. I expect the slime from the R's but it's really unacceptable to be betrayed by our own party. They need to wake up and we need to wake them. Without support from the DNC our fight against election fraud won't have the traction it needs.

Naturally a state or county that wouldn't go Dem anyway would be selected. Not that I wouldn't mind selecting one of those DLC Senators or Reps that vote with the Rs all the time anyway. That would eliminate them and give us an opportunity to get a real Dem in there.

[marions ghost]

12. do you mean request a paper ballot at the polls?

[satya]

17. Yes. n/t

[marions ghost]

19. that worries me

they could easily run out or not have printed any...if it's completely electronic. I don't know how you could enforce it since there's no inherent "right" to a paper ballot. Not as it currently stands anyway...hopefully that can change in future.

[SonofMass]

13. Where'd you get your bud, dudette?

[geek tragedy]

14. What a horribly stupid idea.

Plays right into Republican hands.

Logic is our friend. Paranoia is our enemy.

[LoZoccolo]

15. This sort of stupid idea doesn't surprise me at all.

For some reason, this type of venue attracts people prone to show off and stir shit up to the complete detriment of a real agenda that does anything real in reality. I take the extremist-tactic bullshit I see on here over and over less seriously now that I've seen this post.

[windbreeze]

16. Could someone point

me to a link, any link, that shows someone in the Democratic party is taking our concerns about voter fraud, seriously...
Please do it, if you can...no one seems to be the least concerned, and with all the other bs that this admin is busy with, and involved in, that voter fraud, takes up less and less of our time, when nothing could be more important to the future of the Democratic party...
Hell, they even have Curtis under oath swearing that he wrote a computer program to rig elections, for the R's, and has taken a lie detector test that says he is telling the truth...but STILL NOTHING is being done...
I share the OP's concern..but I am sure that boycotting the vote isn't the answer...
windbreeze

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[LoZoccolo]

20. Why does this junk come in huge waves like this?

I'm seriously wondering. Like, I really don't know.

[ChiciB1]

21. Well, I Guess You COULD Target WYOMING!!!

[AlienGirl]

22. Locking:

Per the DU rules: "Members are expected to be generally supportive of progressive ideals, and to support Democratic candidates for political office."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules.html