Sample letter to Congressmen

[EQPlayer]

Dear xxx,

As you are no doubt aware, the election on November 2nd had some serious glitches. A machine in Ohio counted an extra 3,893 votes for Bush due to a glitch that cannot be recreated. A machine in North Carolina stopped counting votes, forcing a new vote for Commissioner of Agriculture in that county due to the closeness of the race. There are numerous other reports of anomolous results throughout the country. While the results of the Presidential election, and other elections, may or may not have been affected by these problems, there is no doubt in my mind that our current election system is in need of some significant repair. Continued reports of these types of problems have created significant doubts among a growing minority about our ability to hold fair and accurate elections.

I call on you to take action to help eliminate these concerns in the future. While I recognize that elections have been in the purview of the states, this has unfortunately created unequal opportunity and access to the voting mechanism across the country, as has been well documented. Poorer counties and districts historically have had less technological voting machinery, which has made it more difficult for people to vote than in richer counties. In a country with close to a $10 trillion economy and a government budget in excess of $2 trillion, there is no excuse for providing a consistent mechanism for voting throughout the country. And there is also no excuse for not providing a paper trail so that the vote can be validated in the case of machine failures as described above. The recount for the Washington gubernatorial race is a perfect example of why a paper trail is essential to ensure that every vote counts.

I am sure that some of your colleagues will be submitting legislation in the coming session of Congress to address some of these concerns. I urge you to support that legislation in order to fulfull the promise of the Equal Protection amendment to the Constitution, which guaranteed people the right to vote. Having the right is not sufficient, they need the mechanisms in place to make sure their votes are COUNTED, not just cast. If you and your colleagues do not act now, future Congresses will undoubtedly act, and history will likely not look kindly on your unwillingness to guarantee the most basic right to all Americans.

Sincerely,


To DU members:

Please feel free to provide feedback.

[Liberty Belle]

1. These were "switches," not "glitches."

Changing votes from one candidate to another is not a "glitch." Nor is posting cheat sheets to make sure recount totals match up with rigged initial counts.

[EQPlayer]

2. I agree with that

but I haven't seen the proof. Even if I believe it, I wanted my letter to be factually solid, not based on rumor or innuendo. When we have proof, I can send a follow-up.

[s-cubed]

3. kick

[EQPlayer]

4. Thanks for the kick

Hoping people can provide some feedback before I send it off. I'm comfortable with it, I think it's balanced and doesn't make any unprovable accusations, but interested in what others think.

Thanks!