Election reform plan proposed

[Catherine Vincent]

Election reform plan proposed
Official cites eroding faith in process
Sunday, April 09, 2006
By WENDY PLUMP

PRINCETON BOROUGH -- A federal elections official, speaking at a colloquium at Princeton University on Friday, offered four modest but pointed solutions to what he called the "alarming erosion" of American voter confidence following the last two presidential elections.
The solutions put most of the onus for improving the credibility of national and local elections on election administrators and the vendors who serve them.

The official, Ray Martinez, a U.S. Election Assistance Commission vice chairman, was the keynote speaker at "Making Every Vote Count: A Colloquium on Election Reform Legislation." The two-day event drew scholars, policy makers and advocates from all levels of the election community, including members of the U.S. Justice Department.

"One of the most alarming trends in our country is the continual erosion of voter confidence in the accuracy of our tabulated results," Martinez said. "The 2000 presidential election has adversely affected the opinion of the average American on our electoral process.

"Since then, voter confidence has continued to trend in the wrong direction," Martinez added, "and it's unlikely to fade any time soon."

http://www.nj.com/news/times/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-5/1144572323224260.xml&coll=5

[nicknameless]

1. Martinez just resigned? Was he forced to?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x422169

:shrug:

Nominated. Hope we get more info about this.

[FogerRox]

2. Princeton NJ? That Would Irene GOldman .

And a few other bad assed ladies like PAM and BETH. And Rebecca Mercuri.





and Rev Bob Moore

ANd the rest of the Coalition for Peace & Justice. Just guessing.

[nicknameless]

3. He sounds like kind of a rational guy. Why did he *really* resign?

:shrug:

Maybe for speaking the truth before a gathering of concerned citizens and activists?

On edit: Friends of yours? :)

[FogerRox]

4. If Rebecca Mercuri was there, she tore him up.

[nicknameless]

6. But, but, but ....

Look at this:

Martinez also would like to see each state's chief election official take a conflict of interest oath. In it, these political appointees would adopt a voluntary pledge of impartiality, distancing them from the party that appointed them. They would likewise refrain from participating in partisan committees or meetings or raising money for any political groups that would call their credibility into question.

Third, Martinez said all election equipment vendors -- particularly the top tier officers in each company -- should take a similar conflict of interest oath, and that the vendor industry adopt a list of impartiality standards by which vendors must conduct themselves.

I really think he got in trouble for telling the truth, offering reasonable proposals (though not total fixes) and was pressured into resigning. He doesn't sound crooked enough for the cabal.

:shrug:

[FogerRox]

7. Right out of Rebeccas mantra- she knows most of the EAC big shots, she

served on the commission that Looked into the 2000 election. ANd she is a flamethrower. I sent some emails out to the folks in Prinseton, asking WTF happened. No answer yet.

[nicknameless]

8. Thanks. I hope you'll keep us posted.

:thumbsup:

[GuvWurld]

5. #5 - good article

I think those who frown upon him will be most concerned with the fact that he was validating how widespread the doubt is. The relationship between We The People and the power structure that lords over us cannot remain in place indefinitely once enough of us become self-aware of our shared membership in the movement. The ability to keep us unaware of the size of the movement is very important and it is this which Martinez threatened above all.

[Wilms]

9. Like Ike's "Military Industrial Complex" warning prior to leaving office.

This may prove helpful in the long-, perhaps even short-term.

[GuvWurld]

10. kick (eom)

[3ringcircus]

11. this could be BIG