now being written: CA electoral reform VVPB...................

[msongs]

hello,
we have just written an electoral reform proposal for a verified voter paper ballot system in California, where the paper ballot is the legal one for all decisions about vote counting and declaring winners. Voting machines can now be used for data processing and collecting, even unofficial vote counting, but the paper ballots counted at the precincts will be the final authority.

Our program is modeled on the one being used in Georgia at www.voterchoice.org (look for the vote count protection act), with input from other models we have seen on the internet.

At this time we are discussing back and forth to get some questions answered regarding details. For example, having handicapped access, and since California has so many languages, making sure we can accomodate those languages. However we believe existing legal language and existing vote procedures will take care of those issues.

As this is a weekend and government offices are closed tomorrow as well, we will still have to head down to the registrar of voters to get some more data.

The current proposal is not written in legalese with references to all the civic and legal codes, and what sections will have to be changed, etc. that will take people more knowledgeable than us.

I am not sure the democratic party of california will even be interested in this kind of legal change, but we will see!

So keep an eye out for upcoming announcements, and within the week we will have the tentative proposal on my website. It is not a big secret but we are still doing some homework.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

[Liberty Belle]

1. be sure write--in candidate's names count even if bubbles aren't filled in

to eliminate the "Donna Frye" problem.

[slackmaster]

5. That's a potentially large technical problem

The scanning machines' basic function is to count filled-in bubbles in specific expected locations. Anything outside of the pre-printed bubbles is an extraneous mark from the perspective of the machine. That's the way all optical scanning machines have worked since they were invented.

Counting a write-in requires manual intervention - If the bubble isn't filled in, the scanner has no reason to flag that ballot as needing to be examined by a human.

Because of my technical background (I've worked with optical scanning and other types of automatic reading/scoring systems) it was quite obvious to me that the bubble needed to be filled in for a write-in to be counted. Most people lack that experience.

I think a requirement for brutally clear instructions would address the issue.

[hedda_foil]

2. The only way to get this passed is the way Georgia is doing it.

1. It's got to be pushed by people representing as many parties and interest groups as possible ... including right wingers.

2. The interest groups ... from NOW through the Christian Coalition have to sign on as endorsers of the bill.

3. The interest groups have to get their members to write and call to express how much they want the bill to pass.

4. Your people, who have to include activists from across the spectrum ... Libertarians, Republicans, Reform Party, Greens, etc. as well as Dems ... have to lobby individual representatives and Senators of all stripes politely and professionally, but continously and in person.

Sound impossible? That's precisely what the Georgians have done. They have Ralph Reed and the Christian Coalition endorsing their bill along with NOW and Common Cause. The list of endorsers is deep, broad and daunting to legislators across the political spectrum.

Have you guys been talking with Roxanne?

[msongs]

3. emailing her but have not gotten responses lately............

maybe they are doing a vacation weekend thing.

I agree with getting lots of people on board. the truth is this is up to now just a one person job, others have said they might show interest when I had a nearly final proposal which I now have.

not expecting the cowardly democrats to officially be interested,as they are too busy licking arnold's butt, but hoping to get some grass roots dems groups like DFA people interested.

going to post the website page with the details in a few days.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

[yurbud]

4. Give the right ID in exchange for paper ballot & no frivolous challenges

[msongs]

6. we called Georgia and had a nice long chat.................

not with roxanne who is out o town this week, but another lady who was very helpful and gave us some details. they are gonna read our proposal and comment though ours is very much like theirs.

have already looked up emails for the greens, libertarians, etc in california and mailed them. might hear back in a few days, or will figure out how to call these people too.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm