Moving Forward on Election Reform

[WilliamPitt]

http://forum.truthout.org/blog/story/2005/2/9/171445/5656

Congressman John Conyers, Jr., Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement upon introduction of the “Voting Opportunity and Technology Enhancement Rights Act,” or the “VOTER Act of 2005":

---

We have just experienced the second consecutive presidential election where issues were raised concerning irregularities and improprieties. For example, in Ohio we learned of the misallocation of voting machines, which led to lines of ten hours or more and disenfranchised scores, if not hundreds of thousands, of predominantly minority voters. We also learned of numerous incidents of voter intimidation, as well as the dissemination of misleading information.

Members on both sides of the aisle acknowledge that further reforms are needed to ensure that all of our citizens' rights to vote are protected. As a result, the VOTER Act will:

Provide for a uniform Federal write-in/absentee ballot;

Require states to provide for a verifiable audit trail;

Ensure that provisional ballots cast anywhere in a state are counted;

Eliminate disparities in the allocation of voting machines and poll workers among a state's precincts;

Mandate early voting and election day registration procedures;

Protect against improper purging of registration lists in federal elections;

Provide for a study regarding making election day a public holiday;

Ease voter registration requirements;

Allow voter identification by written affidavit;

Study eliminating partisan election officials from administering federal elections;

Enhance training for election officials;

Require the use of publicly available open source software in voting machines;

Provide uniform standards for vote recounts;

Prohibit voting machine companies from engaging in political activities;

Enhance legal protections against voter intimidation and threats.

...more...

[merh]

1. Thank you Congressman Conyers!

Keep this issue alive.

(thank you Mr. Pitt! :hi:)

[meganmonkey]

2. Are you endorsing these 2 bills, so to speak?

by saying "Let's get it started. Any forward progress is good progress"...

[WilliamPitt]

3. Definitely the Conyers bill

and looking hard at the Clinton bill.

[meganmonkey]

4. I have a couple questions, if you have a minute I'd appreciate a response

As I assume you know there are a couple other bills being talked about, and I am still somewhat undecided. I respect your opinion and I would like to see what you think about the following:

--time frame--- As is, the Conyers bill won't go into effect until Jan 2007 (unless it has changed again in the last few days). I know things take time, but I really don't like the fact that it is just 2 months after the 2006 election. It makes me think that it could be done it time and I don't understand why it wouldn't be.

---passability-- (if that is really a word ;) ) Plain and simple, can these bills pass? Particularly in light of the fact that there are Republican bills being introduced as well.

---Ensign bill-- It is short and sweet and gets one very important thing done immediately (voter verified paper ballots). Is it worth our effort to try to get it passed as well or instead?

Thanks Will.

[WilliamPitt]

6. Answers

--time frame--- As is, the Conyers bill won't go into effect until Jan 2007 (unless it has changed again in the last few days). I know things take time, but I really don't like the fact that it is just 2 months after the 2006 election. It makes me think that it could be done it time and I don't understand why it wouldn't be.

I'd be surprised if any of this legislation gets passed and put into effect anytime soon. That isn't anyone's fault, but just the nature of the legislative beast. It took two years to pass HAVA. Supporting one bill over the other shouldn't be based on any concept of a time frame; both will take about the same amount of time to be debated, voted, passed and implemented.

---passability-- (if that is really a word ) Plain and simple, can these bills pass? Particularly in light of the fact that there are Republican bills being introduced as well.

Right out of the gate and with no outside influence, conventional wisdom says any legislation sponsored by a (D) is dead on arrival. But yes, these bills can be passed with a concentrated strategy and a full-court-press by the activists.

---Ensign bill-- It is short and sweet and gets one very important thing done immediately (voter verified paper ballots). Is it worth our effort to try to get it passed as well or instead?

I think the Conyers bill is more comprehensive, and has an incredibly important gathering of groups behind it. Success by this coalition will bode well for future endeavors. That having been said, we don't have to do a this-or-that on these bills. Both are in play.

[meganmonkey]

9. Thank you!

I appreciate your responses.

[Bill Bored]

5. Hi Will

Lots of threads on this bill and some of the others.
If you have time you might want to check them out.
Teddyk23 is from Conyers' office. He's been discussing with us.

Here's one thread. I think it has links to the others:

<http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x314697>

[FogerRox]

7. Pass VIVA NOW--period

ITs like walking--one step at a time.

VIVA is one step. Get that done --
Then take another.
And another

[SharonRB]

8. Thanks for posting this, Will

There's been much discussion on DU lately regarding this bill versus Ensign's bill -- both have their very strong proponents. I'm really not sure which to endorse, although it probably doesn't make much difference. Whatever can get passed is better than nothing, although if this one could get through, it seems to have everything we've been asking for. I'd really like to support Conyers.

[Wilms]

10. Progress Happens. kick n/t

[Melissa G]

11. Dean is making this a priority for the DNC or so says

the move on response I received today. We have to keep this issue on everyone's front burner

[Wilms]

12. There are so many issues on * Co's front burner...

that a pot is bound to fall off, anytime now, and 'scold' them.