If HR811 were passed, there could have been a mandatory audit in NH.

[garybeck]

Note to HR 811 opponents.

If HR811 were passed into law, states like New Hampshire which have no audits on their Diebold scanners would be forced to conduct audits.

It is my understanding that this would apply to primary elections. There is no specific wording in HR811 about primaries, but it says it applies "all federal elections." I believe that primary elections would be considered federal, and thus the mandatory audit would apply. The current version of the legislation would not have kicked in until this November, but would apply to all elections from then on. Some states may have implemented the procedures for the primary elections as well.

In other words, if HR811 were passed, they could be randomly sampling the election results and hand counting some of the ballots right now; in fact it might already be done by now. Dennis Kucinich would not have to ask for a recount, or come up with tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars to pay for a recount. The audit would be automatic on every single federal election that takes place in NH. And the same would apply to every federal election in every state (lilke NH, many other states do not have audits).

Much has been said about the problems and virtues of HR811. One thing we can't deny - without HR811, many of the elections will go on without a single ballot being actually counted and checked against the machine count. If HR811 were passed into law, there would at least be an audit on every federal election. Which is why, even with all the concerns raised about the bill, some of which I agree are valid, I am still in favor of HR811 or any bill that forces every state to conduct mandatory audits.

I believe the election activists who have thwarted and stalled HR811 - most have good intentions. Some, I'm not so sure. But we have shot ourselves in the foot, and by derailing the legislation we're left with nothing once again. We have no audits, unverified election results, and questionable results in almost every state.

-gb

[kster]

1. If Hand Counting the Paper Ballots at the polls was the law

in NH, We wouldn't be worrying about a recount right now. We both know HCPB is the way to go, as Americans we need to get together on this little fact, and stop trying to fix and or legitimize an already PROVEN completely corrupt system of counting ballots. :)

K&R...

[garybeck]

2. I agree that HCPB is better, but...

I believe this reform is a multi step process. Right now we have the machines and at the very minimum we have to start auditing them, as soon as possible.

I believe HR811 is a step in the right direction. Those who oppose it because it is "not enough" or it "legitimizes" secret vote counting, in my opinion, are partly to blame for NOTHING being done at all.

I believe strongly there is a BIG difference between unaudited and audited elections. Mandatory audits found in HR811 is not the cure-all, and it's not the ultimate solution I'm looking for, but it is a significant step in the right direction, which institutes some checks and balances that do not currently exist, and that's why we need it. It would force every single state to conduct audits. That alone is such a big thing, we need it desparately.

[kster]

4. If you know Hand Counting is better, why not fight for

Hand Counting, at this point in the game we have the "secret vote count" crooks surrounded there are more us, (and we are growing in numbers everyday) than there are crooks to keep the lie alive.

We are on our way and all we have to do is keep telling the truth, they have to keep telling lies.

Its simple math. We have no reason to give in, on anything short of Hand Counted Paper Ballots.

We both agree that it is the best way.

[philly_bob]

3. Election Reform movement was confused about HR811. Not a great moment.

Half said "best we can get" and half said "not good enough."

I don't have an independent opinion about HR811. But I do think folks interested in election reform have got to find a way around this kind of paralysis.

There did seem to be some healthy debate and consensus-building on whether or not to recount in NH.