Election Reform - framing the context

[suffragette]

Due to the governor's race in Washington State, election reform has become an important topic here, important enough that the state Senate Government Operations & Elections is already beginning hearings to adopt election reforms.

This is the stage when the context will be framed and shaped for this issue.
I am beginning to notice a definite split in the context, though this is not being viewed yet as a split.

That is that this issue is being approached from two different viewpoints, though these are not named as such and are at the moment being presented under the same umbrella of Election Reform.

One viewpoint is addressing the issues from the context we have been viewing as important in projects like the incipient VOTE project:
Having verifiable balloting and recount processes
Ensuring the rights of eligible voters to participate
etc

The other viewpoint is addressing the issue from a voter reform perspective although it calls itself as Election Reform. The focus here is on reforming the process by exclusionary means and can best be viewed as such by noting recent articles such as http://www.newarkadvocate.com/news/stories/20041226/localnews/1790293.html which want "to make it harder and more expensive to get election recounts" (Blackwell) or by the Rossi campaign’s accusations of ineligible voters having voted.

Faye has been absolutely right in her insistence that there is an important distinction between Election Reform and Voter Reform in intent and framing the context of the issue and now is the time for us to be sure that distinction is honored and shaped by the direction that Election Reform will take.

It is important that we start sending our reform suggestions to legislators and election committees now so that we have the focus on true election reform from the onset of the process.

Below are links to recent developments in Washington State. I encourage any Washington residents to start contacting members of the Senate Government Operations & Elections Committee and your own state representatives to encourage them to support agendas and bills that will lead to a true and verifiable reforming of the election process.

Legislators tackle election reform in wake of governor's race
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/aplocal_story.asp?category=6420&slug=WA%20XGR%20Election%20Reform

Election changes lead agenda
Several vote proposals face legislators this week
http://www.theolympian.com/home/news/20050117/topstories/70415.shtml

Washington State Legislature Legislative Meeting Schedule
Week of 1/17/2005 to 1/23/2005
Contact info: Senate Government Operations & Elections [phone]

Senate Committee Information (includes membership of committees and contact info)
http://www1.leg.wa.gov/Senate/Committees/Default.htm

[Amaryllis]

1. Kick

[bettyellen]

2. kick for cheryl.......

[bush_is_wacko]

3. Yes, Yes Yes...Washington will be the first in the nation to address this

issue. We need to make sure that what they do reflects what we want our country to do. I wish I was a constituent, but I'm not. Please do your duty over there in Washington State. If you need suggestions this site has had lots of threads. Make sure you get the message across that VOTERS aren't the problem. The SYSTEM is the problem. Hell voters did everything they could this election it seems to me!

Good luck Washington!

[suffragette]

6. trying to write up a concise bulleted list to send legislators

I've been going through posts trying to write a concise, bulleted list to send the legislators.
Sifting through the threads to come up with this has been time consuming , but I'm trying. If anyone has suggestions, I'd welcome them.

[bush_is_wacko]

8. arnheim is woking on a project that might have some important

issues for you to raise. The project is caled VOTE. She might be the one to contact to get it weedled down for you. I'll see if I can find the thread!

[bush_is_wacko]

9. This is the original thread. i know some people have already been giving

her info. Maybe she can provide you with some direction. She is real good at answering her PM's and emails.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=275395

[suffragette]

10. I'm in touch with arnheim on it

She's the first one I thought of and I pm'd her right away.

[bush_is_wacko]

11. Great! n/t

[suffragette]

4. link changed

The link for Legislators tackle election reform in wake of governor's race
started going to a different story. I have no clue why.

Here is the new link to Legislators tackle election reform in wake of governor's race

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/208159_elexreform17.html?searchpagefrom=1&searchdiff=7

[Amaryllis]

5. I'm in OR and Senator Wyden has said the same thing; that when

Dems talk election reform, they are talking inclusion. When repubs talk election reform, they are talking exclusion.

[suffragette]

7. this is becoming ever more evident in WA

and I think it will be in other states as politicians begin addressing the issue.
It will be so important to make sure the direction of reform goes in the correct direction.

[Amaryllis]

12. You'v e got that right. Do you know Chuck Herrin's work? It's excellent

to give to legislators since he is a republican.
http://www.chuckherrin.com/paperballots.htm
http://www.chuckherrin.com/evotingquestions.htm
http://www.chuckherrin.com/hackthevoteFAQ.htm

[suffragette]

13. thanks Amaryllis

This is really helpful. Thanks for the links.

[Amaryllis]

20. This link lists two groups in WA working on election reform.

http://www.votersunite.org/info/groups.asp

[Amaryllis]

15. I assume you know about the Snohomish Co. study showing probable fraud

with voting machines? ARe you connected with others in WA working on this? If not, I may be able to help you get connected.


http://www.votersunite.org/info/SnohomishElectionFraudInvestigation.pdf

[suffragette]

17. planned to include this

Not connected to the people working on this, but planned to include it in my messages.

[Amaryllis]

19. Paul Lehto who is one of the authors of the Snohomish Co. study is

really working on it. Don't know what city you are in but you could check with him to see if he knows of any groups you could hook up with. I know there are others in WA working on it. I am in OR and a bunch of us are finding each other and connecting across the state. I will see if I can find more in WA and PM you if I do.

[joevoter]

14. kick

[bettyellen]

16. .

[starmaker]

18. educate yourself and kis

It is important that we start sending our reform suggestions to legislators and election committees now so that we have the focus on true election reform from the onset of the process.

in my search and these may be repeats
www.votersunite.org myth breakers pamphlet
also state links www.ncvoter.net for nc
www.wheresthepaper.org/cacm-YaleStudy.htm

www.blackboxvoting.com

sorry if these are dupes i'm working on something similar
educate the legislators and infuse truth to the public
teach them they can make change happen