Gentlemen, ladies now is the time.

[Q3JR4]

An article online pointed out what we all know, that Diebold's "secure" system was not in any way shape or form secure.

The system used in 30 states accounted for 40 million total votes. The presidential election was decided by much less than that.

We know it to be true, and we have the evidence.

Two members of congress have introduced bills that would address the security concerns. Now is the time for us to take action. Email your congressman (democrat or republican), write an opinion piece to your local paper, and email the news media. We need to hit them and hit them hard. Many Americans don't know about the irregularities, that's why they continue to get away with doing nothing.

We must make a loud clamour that forces all members of our government to look at this issue up front. We need to be loud and resolved to see this through. Together, all of DU can work to make the next election more secure, and open.

If we wait too much longer, it will be too late.

[Nikki Stone 1]

1. What would you suggest?

??

[Q3JR4]

2. Just what I said,

we need to be loud and scream it from the top of our lungs. We made a very loud ruckus before and got the media's attention. If we did it again, think of what could be accomplished.

I've emailed my congressmen (state and federal) and I'm in the process of writing a letter to the local paper here.

When I get a list of media contacts (unless someone else has one), I plan to bombard them with the same information and a demand for them to do their job.

When you think about it, Americans want an open election system. They want to be able to see that if they vote for a candidate, that their votes are counted and go toward that candidate.

If you're not sure that your vote even counted, how can you be sure that the election wasn't rigged? Furthermore if your vote doesn't count, then this country is no longer the democracy it claims to be.

[Nikki Stone 1]

3. I was looking for specifics. Got your general point and have already

written Congress about this issue. My two Senators are Dems and sent me back replies saying they "take this issue very seriously."

I do support your general ideas here, but the more info the better. What might help is posting links to the actual bills so we can at least read the text and know what bill # to refer to when we write our reps (again).

[DearAbby]

4. Media now folks...print this article, get copies. leave them at Dr Offices

everywhere...write, fax, phone your Reps and senators, encourage others to do the same.

[Q3JR4]

5. A link to a partial listing of bills in congress

addressing this issue

http://www.verifiedvoting.org/article.php?list=type&type=13

[blm]

7. We have to stay on top of the DNC on this. They HAVE to expose the

control of the GOP over most of this nations' voting machines.

[Q3JR4]

8. I think it

would be enough for us to show the American public (right, left, middle-of-the-road) that our election process isn't as open as it should be and the outcome could be favored by one candidate over another not by the vote count but by the groups or individuals tabulating that count. We need to show them that everyone regardless of political affiliation could be affected in a way they'd never before dreamed.

This process, I think, can do two things. We can get a concerned group of citizens not just from the left on the band wagon, but everyone else in between. We can all regardless of affiliation agree on open and honest elections. Number two, we would be able to deflect criticism away from the dem. party on this issue (i.e., sour grapes).

If it's framed just right this issue won't be a right vs left, but one of open elections vs cast-your-vote-but-only-if-it's-for-the-'right'-party elections.

[shance]

6. Now is the time Q.

In fact, we're past due.

[Q3JR4]

9. We are way past due,

but no one here is talking about it. I figured it was about time to again bring the issue to the fore.

[jen4clark]

10. The Internet Voting Fraud Conspiracy?

You don't have to put on your tin hat to see what has happened!
by ms in la

http://www.america-patriots.com/Editorial-1.html

As one of the "Internet Conspiracists" (as we've been affectionately labeled by the "Old Media")....I'm speaking on behalf of my small community of bloggers (about 11,000 strong) who, albeit only the fantasist fringe minority, still believe that an American has a right to a vote that is protected from fraud and obstruction from partisan political factions and corporate cronyism.


Yes, we are a wild-eyed lot of whackos, who find suspicion even in the innocuous ownership of the majority of our election systems by major Republican donors and Bush supporters! Laughable, I know... Bear with us, for along with all our fanciful flights of imagination -- we also possess great sensitivity. We invent crazy theories like the CEO of Diebold actually helped win Ohio for Bush (!) based on a lot of nonsense like the fact that he publicly stated he would deliver Ohio for Bush...Ha!! Aren't we a loony bunch! http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0828-08.htm

We even find mischief in the fact that Diebold's main business is in the manufacture of ATM and Ticket Vending machinery -- both of which are manufactured replete with paper receipts. And the fact that they had to actually REMOVE that paper receipt feature to create voting equipment that would NOT provide recordkeeping...well, that makes us tin foil hat-wearers rife with grassy knoll theories!

Now my blog is one of the smaller ones, granted, but there are currently millions of us on all the other blogs and sites on the Internets. Hard to believe how such a lunatic, nutty movement could spread so rampant, huh?? Surprising. Just because Howard Ahmanson, who has major holdings in E S &S Systems (used by Diebold), has also stated his goals of implementing Biblical Law in America... so what if he supports Chalcedon Institute that advocates mandating the death penalty for homosexuality...like that wouldn't be an improvement for society?? And us Internet Fantasists get all up in arms over a good citizen like Howard playing a major role in our election process!! Then we go lamenting the fact that he hangs with the likes of Ollie North, former KKK member Richard Shoff, and the ole Rushdoony gang who like to stone adulterers. Heck, you can't judge a guy by the company he keeps! http://www.counterpunch.org/floyd09262003.html

And big deal that Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell happened to be co-chair of the Bush/Cheney election Campaign! That in no way compromises his integrity or accounts for the fact that he vigorously opposed re-instituting the paper trail into the voting equipment. He just happens to really like the paperless models better. More streamlined, cleaner...Not like Ohio was an important state in this election anyways. I'm sure he was able to put his partisanship aside... http://www.gregpalast.com/detail.cfm?artid=393&row=0

Then the worst of our silly notions, when the inventor and CEO of the most universally approved voting system ("TruVote"-- that offers not one, but TWO paper receipts) http://www.tennessean.com/business/archives/04/09/60549101.shtm -- lauded by election officials nationwide as the fairest---well, when he goes and tragically dies in an unfortunate car accident (slammed by an 18 wheel truck) http://onlinejournal.com/evoting/031904Fitrakis/031904fitrakis.html

Right after the introduction to the marketplace of his voting systems, and right before the election equipment contracts are in place.....well, you can imagine what the conspiracists were whispering about then! It was sad, but--talk about timing-- it was just in time for Diebold systems to step up with their mysterious GEMS tabulators. GEMS counts all the precints ballots before the end tally is announced. Of course, the Internet nut cases, once again, start whining when Baxter the Chimp is able to hack into the GEMS system, as he demonstrated with Bev Harris before the election. http://www.blackboxvoting.org/baxter/baxterVPR.mov We never considered that there might be some hyper-intelligent Chimps out there who can perform miracles given the right software program. Geeze!! No need to panic if the system randomly decides to count backwards early on election day, or if a 25 million vote error should present itself in Ohio equipment early on. We all know how computers have "glitches"!

(Cont.)
http://www.america-patriots.com/Editorial-1.html

[adigal]

11. I got money from a Diebold ATM the other day

and it gave me a receipt. Miraculous!!!

[AntiCoup2K4]

14. Did you count it to see if it was all there?

At this point, I wouldn't trust a Diebold machine to add 2+2.

[Al-CIAda]

12. kick

[senseandsensibility]

13. kick

This is such an important issue! In some ways, it's the only issue!