It's the best we can do - DU it!

[freedomfries]

Rush Holt's HR 550, the most comprehensive piece of election reform legislation written, now has bi-partisan sponsorship and 159 co-sponsors. Let's make some more noise for its passage. IT'S THE BEST WE'VE GOT RIGHT NOW!
Combining the call for voter-verified paper audit records with mandated, unannounced, random audit of election results, and linking prohibition of undisclosed software and internet connection with accessibility measures, H.R. 550, if passed, would force the Diebolt, ES&S, Sequoia e-voting and vote-counting junkware out of the market.
Please sign Rush Holt's petition and write to your Rep if he/she is not on the H.R.550 co-sponsor list. Thanks. freedomfries

http://www.rushholt.com/petition.html

Dear Members of the House Administration Committee:

On February 2, 2005, the Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act (H.R. 550) was reintroduced to the U.S. House of Representatives. Its goal is simple: to set a national standard of security and independent auditability for our electoral process, and restore confidence in the outcomes of elections. H.R. 550 would require all voting systems to produce an actual paper record that voters themselves can inspect in the voting booth to check the accuracy of their votes, and that election officials can use to verify the accuracy of the vote count. Commonly referred to as a "voter-verified paper record," it is the most effective way to ensure an independent audit and provide voter-verified evidence as to the accuracy (or not) of election results.

You have heard from Members of the Maryland Delegation, who circulated a letter to the House in March reporting that "election judges unable to provide substantial confirmation that the vote was, in fact, counted" in certain elections in 2004 in Maryland. You have heard from Members of the Florida Delegation, who circulated a letter to the House in April reporting that more than 1,200 undervotes (voters who entered the voting booth without recording a vote) were recorded in an election in early 2005 in Florida in which there was only a single item on the ballot. You have heard from other Members who circulated letters reporting "more than 10,000 instances where a vote was not counted in three counties during the 2004 general election," on the same make of equipment that also was reported to have malfunctioned in Virginia in 2004. You have heard from the bi-partisan team of Representative Rush Holt (D-NJ) and Tom Davis (R-VA, the Chairman of the Government Reform Committee) repeatedly about election disputes resolved with finality by a hand count of voter-verified paper records; about the Carter-Baker Commission of Federal Election Reform's recommendation for voter-verified paper records; and about the Government Accountability Office's September 2005 report confirming the existence of a wide variety of irregularities, malfunctions, and inherent risks in unauditable electronic voting. Since H.R. 550's predecessor bill was first introduced in May 2003, half the States (see map) have implemented requirements for voter-verified paper records. It is time to make this critical security measure a national standard. It is time to act.
....
http://www.rushholt.com/petition.html


The Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act (H.R. 550) will:

Mandate a voter-verified paper ballot for every vote cast in every federal election, nationwide; because the voter verified paper record is the only one verified by the voters themselves, rather than by the machines, it will serve as the vote of record in any case of inconsistency with electronic records;
Protect the accessibility requirements of the Help America Vote Act for voters with disabilities;
Require random, unannounced, hand-count audits of actual election results in every state, and in each county, for every Federal election;
Prohibit the use of undisclosed software and wireless and concealed communications devices and internet connections in voting machines;
Provide Federal funding to pay for implementation of voter-verified paper balloting; and
Require full implementation by 2006

Sign the petition!
http://www.rushholt.com/petition.html

H.R. 550 currently has 159 co-sponsors

*Please feel free to thank the current co-sponsors of H.R.550, or encourage others by writing them.

Rep Abercrombie, Neil - 2/2/2005 Rep Ackerman, Gary L. - 3/2/2005
Rep Allen, Thomas H. - 2/2/2005 Rep Andrews, Robert E. - 11/18/2005
Rep Baird, Brian - 2/2/2005 Rep Baldwin, Tammy - 2/2/2005
Rep Barrow, John - 9/6/2005 Rep Becerra, Xavier - 2/9/2005
Rep Berkley, Shelley - 4/5/2005 Rep Berman, Howard L. - 2/2/2005
Rep Berry, Marion - 3/17/2005 Rep Bishop, Sanford D., Jr. - 2/16/2005
Rep Bishop, Timothy H. - 2/16/2005 Rep Blumenauer, Earl - 2/10/2005
Rep Bono, Mary - 9/28/2005 Rep Boucher, Rick - 4/5/2005
Rep Boyd, Allen - 3/2/2005 Rep Brady, Robert A. - 4/20/2005
Rep Brown, Corrine - 2/16/2005 Rep Brown, Sherrod - 2/9/2005
Rep Butterfield, G. K. - 3/17/2005 Rep Capps, Lois - 2/2/2005
Rep Cardin, Benjamin L. - 9/27/2005 Rep Cardoza, Dennis A. - 6/24/2005
Rep Carnahan, Russ - 9/13/2005 Rep Carson, Julia - 2/16/2005
Rep Case, Ed - 2/2/2005 Rep Clay, Wm. Lacy - 2/2/2005
Rep Cleaver, Emanuel - 9/13/2005 Rep Cole, Tom - 2/2/2005
Rep Conyers, John, Jr. - 2/2/2005 Rep Cooper, Jim - 2/2/2005
Rep Crowley, Joseph - 2/16/2005 Rep Cummings, Elijah E. - 2/9/2005
Rep Davis, Danny K. - 3/2/2005 Rep Davis, Jim - 3/2/2005
Rep Davis, Susan A. - 4/20/2005 Rep Davis, Tom - 2/2/2005
Rep DeFazio, Peter A. - 2/2/2005 Rep DeGette, Diana - 3/2/2005
Rep Delahunt, William D. - 2/16/2005 Rep DeLauro, Rosa L. - 3/10/2005
Rep Dicks, Norman D. - 2/2/2005 Rep Dingell, John D. - 3/17/2005
Rep Doggett, Lloyd - 2/16/2005 Rep Doyle, Michael F. - 2/16/2005
Rep Emanuel, Rahm - 2/16/2005 Rep Engel, Eliot L. - 4/5/2005
Rep Eshoo, Anna G. - 2/2/2005 Rep Etheridge, Bob - 2/16/2005
Rep Evans, Lane - 11/18/2005 Rep Farr, Sam - 2/2/2005
Rep Filner, Bob - 2/2/2005 Rep Fitzpatrick, Michael G. - 6/24/2005
Rep Ford, Harold E., Jr. - 3/10/2005 Rep Frank, Barney - 2/9/2005
Rep Gonzalez, Charles A. - 9/28/2005 Rep Gordon, Bart - 4/5/2005
Rep Green, Gene - 6/24/2005 Rep Grijalva, Raul M. - 2/16/2005
Rep Gutierrez, Luis V. - 2/16/2005 Rep Hastings, Alcee L. - 2/2/2005
Rep Higgins, Brian - 2/9/2005 Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. - 2/2/2005
Rep Honda, Michael M. - 2/9/2005 Rep Hooley, Darlene - 2/16/2005
Rep Inslee, Jay - 2/16/2005 Rep Israel, Steve - 4/5/2005
Rep Issa, Darrell E. - 9/6/2005 Rep Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. - 4/5/2005
Rep Jackson-Lee, Sheila - 3/2/2005 Rep Johnson, Eddie Bernice - 2/16/2005
Rep Jones, Stephanie Tubbs - 2/2/2005 Rep Kanjorski, Paul E. - 5/11/2005
Rep Kaptur, Marcy - 2/2/2005 Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. - 5/26/2005
Rep Kildee, Dale E. - 2/9/2005 Rep Kilpatrick, Carolyn C. - 2/2/2005
Rep Kind, Ron - 2/2/2005 Rep Kucinich, Dennis J. - 2/2/2005
Rep Kuhl, John R. "Randy", Jr. - 6/24/2005 Rep Lantos, Tom - 2/2/2005
Rep Larsen, Rick - 2/9/2005 Rep Lee, Barbara - 2/2/2005
Rep Levin, Sander M. - 7/13/2005 Rep Lewis, John - 2/9/2005
Rep Lowey, Nita M. - 3/2/2005 Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. - 2/2/2005
Rep Markey, Edward J. - 4/5/2005 Rep Matheson, Jim - 2/9/2005
Rep McCarthy, Carolyn - 2/9/2005 Rep McCollum, Betty - 2/9/2005
Rep McDermott, Jim - 2/2/2005 Rep McGovern, James P. - 2/2/2005
Rep McKinney, Cynthia A. - 2/2/2005 Rep McNulty, Michael R. - 3/2/2005
Rep Meehan, Martin T. - 9/6/2005 Rep Meek, Kendrick B. - 3/2/2005
Rep Menendez, Robert - 9/13/2005 Rep Michaud, Michael H. - 2/9/2005
Rep Miller, Brad - 7/21/2005 Rep Miller, George - 2/9/2005
Rep Mollohan, Alan B. - 2/2/2005 Rep Moore, Dennis - 2/2/2005
Rep Moore, Gwen - 9/6/2005 Rep Moran, James P. - 2/2/2005
Rep Murtha, John P. - 2/16/2005 Rep Nadler, Jerrold - 2/2/2005
Rep Napolitano, Grace F. - 2/9/2005 Rep Neal, Richard E. - 9/13/2005
Rep Oberstar, James L. - 2/2/2005 Rep Obey, David R. - 2/2/2005
Rep Olver, John W. - 2/16/2005 Rep Owens, Major R. - 2/9/2005
Rep Pallone, Frank, Jr. - 2/9/2005 Rep Pascrell, Bill, Jr. - 2/2/2005
Rep Pastor, Ed - 2/16/2005 Rep Payne, Donald M. - 2/2/2005
Rep Petri, Thomas E. - 2/9/2005 Rep Price, David E. - 2/2/2005
Rep Rahall, Nick J., II - 2/16/2005 Rep Ramstad, Jim - 9/6/2005
Rep Rangel, Charles B. - 2/16/2005 Rep Ross, Mike - 2/9/2005
Rep Rothman, Steven R. - 3/2/2005 Rep Ryan, Tim - 2/9/2005
Rep Sabo, Martin Olav - 2/2/2005 Rep Salazar, John T. - 6/24/2005
Rep Sanchez, Linda T. - 2/9/2005 Rep Sanchez, Loretta - 2/2/2005
Rep Sanders, Bernard - 2/9/2005 Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. - 2/2/2005
Rep Schiff, Adam B. - 2/2/2005 Rep Schwartz, Allyson Y. - 6/24/2005
Rep Scott, Robert C. - 2/2/2005 Rep Serrano, Jose E. - 2/9/2005
Rep Sherman, Brad - 2/2/2005 Rep Slaughter, Louise McIntosh - 5/5/2005
Rep Smith, Adam - 4/5/2005 Rep Snyder, Vic - 2/16/2005
Rep Solis, Hilda L. - 2/9/2005 Rep Stark, Fortney Pete - 4/5/2005
Rep Stupak, Bart - 3/10/2005 Rep Taylor, Gene - 11/18/2005
Rep Thompson, Mike - 2/16/2005 Rep Tierney, John F. - 2/9/2005
Rep Towns, Edolphus - 2/16/2005 Rep Udall, Mark - 2/9/2005
Rep Udall, Tom - 3/2/2005 Rep Van Hollen, Chris - 2/2/2005
Rep Velazquez, Nydia M. - 7/13/2005 Rep Wasserman Schultz, Debbie - 2/9/2005
Rep Watson, Diane E. - 3/10/2005 Rep Waxman, Henry A. - 2/2/2005
Rep Weiner, Anthony D. - 4/5/2005 Rep Wexler, Robert - 2/2/2005
Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. - 2/2/2005 Rep Wu, David - 2/2/2005
Rep Wynn, Albert Russell - 2/9/2005




freedomfries

[laruemtt]

1. thanks for posting this!

i signed and sent on to family and friends to sign too. :toast:

[freedomfries]

2. Thanks for moving this around laruemtt!

[Time for change]

3. Will do when I get home -- thank you and nominated n/t

[The Witch]

4. Thank God Rep. Davis (R) is signed onto this :)

Man does something right. I guess he knows there are loadsa blue voters in this part of Virginny.

[freedomfries]

5. thanks tfc and the good witch! Let's keep this moving on!

[Chi]

6. SIgned & nominated n/t

[spooky3]

7. signed, kicked, and recommended! Thanks.

[autorank]

8. Signed, sealed, & delivered. We need action now. Then paper.

The election integrity movement is about to burst onto the public scene. Just wait until there's one of these * scandals with a voting machine company that's tied into a larger scandal that is current. The press will have massive problems sitting on it because it will be part of the record.

My nomination goes to Abrmahoff who will be shown tied to Ahmandson, former owner of ESS. It's there in bits and pieces. Wait until that pops.

In the mean time, Holt's resolution needs to hit the floor and pass. It's incremental at this point but a huge step in the right direction. It's the only response to HAVA that's capable of passing.

[KoKo]

9. Hava Act has mandated machines be purchased by end of January, so

I hope this can be passed before the Christmas Recess. Otherwise the states will have already purchased DRE's.

I signed it and was glad to see two of my Congressmen have signed on.

[autorank]

15. Just had a thought...you inspired me.

BushCo is the gang that couldn't shoot straight. They screw up everything. The easier it is to get, the worse they do. HAVA is one of their great cons, maybe more important than Iraq. Doesn't it make sense that now that we have a deadline,to give them their goodies, they'll screw it up. Here is is, on a silver platter...and then someone will blow the whole thing. It just fits the pattern so well. In the case of BushCo, "their offense is often our best defense."

[snot]

10. Everyone, pls help keep this kicked and nom'd! nt

[cyberpj]

11. Done. And I wrote my rep - who is NOT on the list - asking him why! nt.

[pauldp]

12. Done. My Rep is Bill Thomas, he is not on the list either.

I just emailed him. This is sooo important!

[freedomfries]

13. Thanks again!

Your folks are great! Together we can keep this thing rolling!

[il_lilac]

14. signed and thank you

was unaware that my rep. was not a signer. He Now knows that I want to know why!

[IndyOp]

16. Signed. Thanks! (nt)

[BeFree]

17. Job One

We have to get 550 passed, NOW.

Who else is up for a full court press?

We need to flood DU, Kos, et al, with the idea of motivating everyone to take action and continue action until 550 is law.

We need a media blast, we need our friends and neighbors to call. In short, this time will be a defining moment in the history of the movement. Let's DU it.

This thread must be posted on GD, and we all need to keep it kicked until the cows come home.

[freedomfries]

18. thanks for GD thread BeFree!

[freedomfries]

19. kick