Urgent Action alert - SB370 - to require audit of paper ballot

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

This is critical protection to your vote- the SOS of California is trying to take away the paper ballot, or prevent it from being used for audits.

VerifiedVoting.org has issued an action alert which allows
Californians to write to Governor Schwarzenegger and urge
him to sign SB370 into law. The alert is here:
http://www.demaction.org/dia/organizations/vevo/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=1159

[ailsagirl]

1. Thanks for posting this

[mojavekid]

2. Done and Thanks! n/t

[yurbud]

3. faxed Arnold and McPherson

so much for those who said McPherson was beyond corruption.

[yurbud]

5. text of my faxes to Arnold & McPherson:

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814


Gov. Schwarzenegger,

The legislature is sending you SB 370, a bill that would require county clerks to use the voter verified paper trail for recounts. The people of California want to have full confidence that their vote will be counted accurately and this legislation will do this. Therefore, you must sign SB 370.

The legislature has taken several measures to protect the integrity of our vote after problems with electronic voting machines in other states. Despite the GOP hounding the previous Secretary of State out of office, the legislature graciously confirmed your nominee to replace despite public pleas to leave the post open so Shelley’s lieutenant could do the job.

If you veto this legislation, you would lose more of the little remaining goodwill you have with the public and legislature.

Let me lay out two scenarios for you:

1. You sign this bill, ensuring fair elections. After you are voted out of office, you go back to Hollywood, and can tell great stories about being governor when you smoke cigars with your friends.
   
   
2. You veto this bill. You “miraculously” wins re-election, despite the lowest public approval ratings of a re-elected governor (much like President Bush in 2004). When that occurs, I and every other literate Californian will demand that the legislature and attorney general investigate you and your connection to voting machine companies, whether they manipulated any past elections that you benefited from, and if so, that you be prosecuted.
   

Like most Americans, I am a big fan of your film work, and like most Californians, how willing I am to go see your next movie after your political career ends will depend on the amount of harm you do and for how long. Taking away my right to vote would be more than enough to steer me into someone else’s movie.

Bruce McPherson
Secretary of State
1500 11th Street, 5th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814

Mr. McPherson,


Why are you asking Arnold to veto legislation that would require county clerks to use the voter verified paper trail for recounts? If you want fair, accurate, elections that have full public confidence, you must support SB 370.

When Gov. Schwarzenegger nominated you to replace Kevin Shelley, your Democratic colleagues in the legislature assured those of us advocating fair elections that you would not engage in the kind of partisan rigging and vote suppression that Republicans openly engaged in in Florida and Ohio. Your recent decision regarding Diebold seemed to prove that their faith in your integrity was correct.

However, your current campaigning against SB 370 is unfortunately confirming our original fears that however well-intentioned you are, your convictions would wilt in the face of Karl Rove’s arm twisting and threats. Even if that is not the case, that is how people will see you if you make it easier for future elections to be rigged.

Let me lay out two scenarios for you:

1. You encourage Arnold to sign this bill, ensuring fair elections, an issue you have worked for. He goes back to Hollywood when he is voted out of office, and you will have the respect of your fellow Californians in spite of the general opinion of Republicans as being profoundly corrupt and callous to the needs of average people.
   
   
2. You encourage Arnold to veto this bill. He “miraculously” wins re-election, despite the lowest public approval ratings of a re-elected governor (much like President Bush in 2004). When that occurs, I and every other literate Californian will demand that the legislature and attorney general investigate both Arnold and your connection to voting machine companies, whether they manipulated any past elections, and if so, criminal prosecution for the guilty parties including you.
   

California is a great place to live, and I’m sure you don’t want to be remembered as the Secretary of State that destroyed our right to vote, just so a corrupt regime could pull our standard of living below Mississippi’s.

Obviously, the people of California don’t have the kind of threats and bribes at our disposal as the National Republican Party, but I think you’d like to live in this state without wondering when you would be indicted for subverting our election process, or what you would say when your grandkids asked you what you did in your time in public life.

Please act like a patriot and not a corrupt political whore.

[Oerdin]

4. Done.