DU Action...BUT you have to be nice. It's imperative to be nice

[Andy_Stephenson]

I am just back from the Progressive Democrats of America Conference in Washington. The trip was a very productive and the consensus coming from that is, that we all believe that a paper ballot is the first step in a larger battle for election reform. This is the beginning of a new Voting Rights Movement … and we are all on the front lines because democracy, itself, depends on us.

I am currently working with CASE America, National Ballot Integrity Project, and Velvet Revolution to build the broad-based coalition it will take if we are to succeed. CASE America, is led by Susan Truitt. As co-founder of CASE-Ohio, Susan built the grass-roots organization that forced Secretary of State Blackwell to back away from his plan to install Diebold touch-screen voting machines across the state. After the election, CASE members brought Ohio’s voting nightmares to national attention, while Susan has served as co-counsel on the lawsuit that brought the Conyers Committee to Ohio. The evidence they brought to light led to Senator Boxer standing up in the Senate to challenge the Ohio electors.

CASE America and the National Ballot Integrity Project are working together, under the CASE America banner, to form a new 501c3 organization to energize and empower the grassroots across the nation to take on voting machine and election law issues on a county, state and national basis. The National Ballot Integrity Project, which is a 501c4 organization, will continue as the lobbying and advocacy arm of the CASE America-NBIP effort.

We have already begun to fight. States and counties are lining up to order paperless touch-screen machines right now, and we need your help to stop them.

I will be back in Washington next week with Warren Stewart and Joan Krawitz of the National Ballot Integrity Project, to lobby for Senator Ensign’s Bill Entitled the Voting Integrity and Verification Act of 2005 (V.I.V.A. 2005). VIVA clarifies the language in the Help America Vote Act of 2002, adding a requirement for a voter verified paper ballot and making that paper ballot the primary ballot of record. It was introduced late in the last session with bi-partisan sponsorship as S. 2347 and we are told that it will have identical language this time and will be introduced early in February.

Ensign’s bill permits the voter to verify the accuracy of their ballot “in a private and independent manner” by allowing the voter to review an individual paper version of the “voter's ballot” before the “voter's ballot” is cast and counted. All electronic records produced by any voting system will be consistent with the paper records. In the event of any inconsistencies or irregularities between any electronic records and paper records, the voter verified paper record is considered the true and correct record of the votes cast. It also mandates that the paper ballots be used as the official record for the purpose of any recount or audit, conducted with respect to any election for Federal Office. Ensign’s bill is tightly focused and strong. and the provisions will take effect as if they had been included in the enactment of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, that is, in time for the 2006 general election.

Ensign’s bill is competing with a bill introduced last Tuesday by Senator Dodd (S. 17). Dodd’s bill calls for "VOTER VERIFIED BALLOTS" In Dodd’s bill; voting systems will provide an independent means of voter verification. It mandates a list of verification options that must be offered to each voter: a paper record, an audio record, pictorial record, electronic record or any other means of verification which is equal or superior to verification through the use of a paper record.

This shell game is not even going to be required until January 1, 2009, and even then it will not apply to any voting system purchased before that date This bill does little to provide any meaningful voter-verified ballot requirement on any useful time scale. Longer term, it will impose complex, ill-defined, and costly mandates on the States, potentially interfering with State-level voter verified paper ballot bills that have already been passed into law by a number of States, and further restricting the range of HAVA-compliant choices from which States can choose to meet their voting system needs - more paperless DREs! We must insist on a “Voter Verified Paper Ballot”.


We are asking everyone both Democrat and Republican to come together on this and call or write the list of Senators below. Contact only Senators on the list. Being a constituent counts, so please call your own Senators’ offices personally. I think this goes without saying but the rhetoric that is used will be one of two things: hugely persuasive or a huge turnoff. Talk of "stolen" elections in 2000 or this year in communications will not open a productive dialogue. We need honey not vinegar on this one. If you’re contacting a Democratic Senator from one state, contact the Republican as well. For example, if you are contacting Dayton from Minnesota you should also contact Coleman.

The most important thing is to ask all the Republicans to co-sponsor Senator Ensign’s bill, which will be introduced either late next week or early the week after. Senator Ensign is a Republican, who was a leading member of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee that produced HAVA. The reason he introduced this bill last year (when it was numbered S. 2437, though a new number will be issued when it’s reintroduced this year) was that he wants to fix the misinterpretation of HAVA that has led to the purchasing of touch-screen voting machines without a voter-verified paper ballot. If you’ve never called a Senator’s office, don’t worry. The people in their offices are very friendly and courteous.

Urge the Republican Senators to co-sponsor and support Senator Ensign's Bill (VIVA 2005). With Democrats express your disapproval of Dodd's Bill (S. 17), and ask them to support the Ensign Bill to ensure voter verified paper ballots. This is a non-partisan issue and should be framed in terms of integrity, accuracy, and the security of the election process - the foundation of democracy.

Senator Ensign is a Republican, who was a leading member of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee that produced HAVA. He introduced this bill last year because he wants to fix the loophole in HAVA that has led to the purchasing of touch-screen voting machines without a voter-verified paper ballot. If you’ve never called a Senator’s office, don’t worry. The people in their offices are very friendly and courteous.

A great talking point for Republican offices has been to let them know that a recount and an election challenge was filed in Nevada. The Secretary of State conducted a random audit of 64,000 paper ballots, comparing them to the electronic record of that ballot. That audit showed 100% consistency between the paper and electronic records, providing a confidence in the vote that was impossible before Nevada established a voter verified paper ballot requirement.

Attached is the list of Senators to e-mail, fax and call. Contact only the ones on the list and remember…be nice and strictly NON-partisan!

Sincerely,
Andy

Alexander, Lamar - (R - TN) Class II
302 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
alexander.senate.gov

Allard, Wayne - (R - CO) Class II
525 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: allard.senate.gov/contactme

Allen, George - (R - VA) Class I
204 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: allen.senate.gov/index.cfm?c=email

Baucus, Max - (D - MT) Class II
511 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: baucus.senate.gov/emailmax.html

Bayh, Evan - (D - IN) Class III
463 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: bayh.senate.gov/WebMail1.htm

Bennett, Robert - (R - UT) Class III
431 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: bennett.senate.gov/contact/emailmain.html

Bingaman, Jeff - (D - NM) Class I
703 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

Bond, Christopher - (R - MO) Class III
274 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: bond.senate.gov/contact/contactme.cfm

Brownback, Sam - (R - KS) Class III
303 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: brownback.senate.gov/CMEmailMe.htm


Burr, Richard - (R - NC) Class III
UNITED STATES SENATE WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]

Chafee, Lincoln - (R - RI) Class I
141A RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: chafee.senate.gov/webform.htm

Coburn, Tom - (R - OK) Class III
UNITED STATES SENATE WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]

Cochran, Thad - (R - MS) Class II
113 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: cochran.senate.gov/contact.htm

Coleman, Norm - (R - MN) Class II
320 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: coleman.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.ContactForm

Collins, Susan - (R - ME) Class II
172 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: collins.senate.gov/low/contactemail.htm

Cornyn, John - (R - TX) Class II
517 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: cornyn.senate.gov/contact/index.html

Craig, Larry - (R - ID) Class II
520 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: craig.senate.gov/webform.html

Crapo, Michael - (R - ID) Class III
239 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: crapo.senate.gov

Dayton, Mark - (D - MN) Class I
346 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: dayton.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm

DeMint, Jim - (R - SC) Class III
UNITED STATES SENATE WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]

Dole, Elizabeth - (R - NC) Class II
120 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: dole.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactInformation.ContactForm

Domenici, Pete - (R - NM) Class II
328 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: domenici.senate.gov/resources/contactform.cfm

Enzi, Michael - (R - WY) Class II
379A RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: enzi.senate.gov/email.htm

Graham, Lindsey - (R - SC) Class II
290 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: lgraham.senate.gov/index.cfm?mode=contact

Grassley, Chuck - (R - IA) Class III
135 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: grassley.senate.gov/webform.htm

Gregg, Judd - (R - NH) Class III
393 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

Hagel, Chuck - (R - NE) Class II
248 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: hagel.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Offices.Contact

Harkin, Tom - (D - IA) Class II
731 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: harkin.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm

Hatch, Orrin - (R - UT) Class I
104 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: hatch.senate.gov/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Offices.Contact

Hutchison, Kay - (R - TX) Class I
284 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: hutchison.senate.gov/e-mail.htm

Inhofe, James - (R - OK) Class II
453 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: inhofe.senate.gov/contactus.htm

Isakson, Johnny - (R - GA) Class III
UNITED STATES SENATE WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]

Jeffords, James - (I - VT) Class I
413 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: jeffords.senate.gov/contact-form.html

Kyl, Jon - (R - AZ) Class I
730 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: kyl.senate.gov/contact.cfm

Landrieu, Mary - (D - LA) Class II
724 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: landrieu.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm

Leahy, Patrick - (D - VT) Class III
433 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

Levin, Carl - (D - MI) Class II
269 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: levin.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm

Lott, Trent - (R - MS) Class I
487 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

Lugar, Richard - (R - IN) Class I
306 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

Martinez, Mel - (R - FL) Class III
UNITED STATES SENATE WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]

McCain, John - (R - AZ) Class III
241 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: mccain.senate.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=Contact.Home

Murkowski, Lisa - (R - AK) Class III
322 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: murkowski.senate.gov/contact.html

Nelson, Ben - (D - NE) Class I
720 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: bennelson.senate.gov/email.html

Reed, Jack - (D - RI) Class II
728 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: reed.senate.gov/form-opinion.htm

Roberts, Pat - (R - KS) Class II
109 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: roberts.senate.gov/e-mail_pat.html

Salazar, Ken - (D - CO) Class III
UNITED STATES SENATE WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: salazar.senate.gov/contactus.cfm

Santorum, Rick - (R - PA) Class I
511 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: santorum.senate.gov/emailrjs.html

Sessions, Jeff - (R - AL) Class II
335 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: sessions.senate.gov/contact.htm#form

Shelby, Richard - (R - AL) Class III
110 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

Smith, Gordon - (R - OR) Class II
404 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: gsmith.senate.gov/webform.htm

Snowe, Olympia - (R - ME) Class I
154 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

Specter, Arlen - (R - PA) Class III
711 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

Stevens, Ted - (R - AK) Class II
522 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: stevens.senate.gov/contact_form.cfm

Sununu, John - (R - NH) Class II
111 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: www.sununu.senate.gov/webform.html

Talent, James - (R - MO) Class I
493 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: talent.senate.gov/Contact/default.cfm?pagemode=1

Thomas, Craig - (R - WY) Class I
307 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: thomas.senate.gov/html/contact.html

Vitter, David - (R - LA) Class III
UNITED STATES SENATE WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: vitter.senate.gov/contact.cfm

Warner, John - (R - VA) Class II
225 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: warner.senate.gov/contact/contactme.cfm

Wyden, Ron - (D - OR) Class III
516 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: wyden.senate.gov/contact.html