You're invited: Election Assessment Hearing in Houston tomorrow--Weds!

[emlev]

Election Assessment Hearing
Wednesday, June 29 2005
The Garden Center at Hermann Park
1500 Hermann Drive
Houston, Texas 77004
MAP

Many researchers, analysts, and investigators are examining issues and pursuing improvements in election processes throughout the United States.  Along with numerous ongoing, lasting issues, the impact of electronic voting technologies on electoral processes has also become a matter of great concern in recent years.  In response to the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), every State is currently grappling with important decisions that may affect election processes fundamentally.

Recognizing the gravity of the full range of concerns associated with elections, the Election Assessment Hearing is undertaking a survey of issues and conditions observed in the conduct of our elections, as a means to examine the reliability of the process as a whole and establish a basis for assuring effective solutions.  This survey is intended to get a sense of the scope and diversity of concerns, to identify how to understand the quality of election processes, to review evidence and make preliminary assessments, and to facilitate the improvement of electoral processes by election administrators, policymakers, standards bodies, advisors and other participants in the production of vote counts.  Election process observers throughout the country have resolved to take part in this event.

The Election Assessment Hearing is an initial step in an effort to help assure sustainable election reform through the application of proven quality analysis, improvement and control methods which provide an effective framework that encompasses electoral processes as a whole.

A summary statement of findings from this hearing will be issued to government agencies and other stewards of election processes, and will also be made available for public review.  This statement will be submitted to the Commission on Federal Election Reform, which is holding their final hearing at the James Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University in Houston, Texas on June 30th.  The Commission is slated to issue a report in September and has not yet received crucial testimony from many election process observers.

As a part of the Election Assessment Hearing, a survey of submissions to include submitted prepared statements, supporting documents, and important public documents pertaining to election assessment will be delivered in CD format to election process stewards including the Commission on June 30th. Subsequent releases of this CD will incorporate the Hearing panel's assessment of evidence and recommended election process improvements.

Election Assessment Hearing
Hearing Agenda


Introduction and Introductory Comments:
8:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.

Part One - Issues Identified in Electoral Processes:
8:45 a.m. to Noon

Lunch:
Noon to 1:00 p.m.

Part Two - Impact of Digital Voting Systems on Electoral Processes:
1:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.

Break:
2:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Part Three - Causes for Electoral Process Issues and Recommended Solutions:
2:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.

Closing Remarks:
5:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Post Hearing Press Conference:
5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Election Assessment Hearing Presenters
 

Issues Identified in Electoral Processes:
* Rev. Bill Moss, Plaintiff, Moss v. Bush
* Bob Fitrakis, Editor, Free Press
* Richard Hayes Phillips, Legal Statistician
* Richard Winger, Ballot Access Expert
* Kathy Dopp, US Count Votes
* Judy Alter, Election Investigator
* David Griscom, Adjunct Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
* Juan Martinez, MASSVote
* Joseph Waymack, North Carolina Coalition for Verified Voting



Impact of Digital Voting Systems on Electoral Processes:
* Bev Harris, Black Box Voting



Causes for Electoral Process Issues and Recommended Solutions:
* Ted Selker, Caltech/MIT Voting Technology Project
* David Cobb, Green Party Presidential Candidate
* Linda Curtis, Independent Texans
* Lynn Landes, Freelance Journalist
* Jo Anne Karasek, CASE Ohio, J-30
* Cynthia Test, Coalition for Election Integrity
* Heleni Thayre, Citizens for Voting Integrity
* Sharona Merel, National Ballot Integrity Project
* David Wager, Verifiable Votes Coalition of Houston


Hope you can make it!
For a map to the venue and other info, please see:
www.electionassessment.org.

[Kelvin Mace]

1. Please remember, Bev Harris is NOT your friend

and has NO credibility aby more.

She is now also attacking open source voting software.

[PDittie]

2. I'll be there for some part of the PM sessions, em

Look forward to meeting you.

[PDittie]

3. I was unable to attend, but here's a report from demodonkey

who was on the panel (way2go):

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x381858

[tbyg52]

4. Speaking of elections

This is only sort of related, but I don't have enough posts to start a thread. And I have qualms about posting anyway--this is a very literate group and I am intimidated....! ;->

That said, I'm in the process of doing everything I can think of for paper ballots. I'm really frightened by the paperless options, and it is impossible to reassure me.

I heard on the radio this morning that Governor Perry might allow the special session to consider other issues.

I'm probably being way too optimistic here, but let's all call him and ask that he allow the VVPAT bills to be reconsidered in the special session. (Perry is the one to call--he has complete control over what may be considered in the special session.) Let's also tell him how important paper is.

The bills are HB 166 and SB 94.

The number is toll-free, and it only takes a minute. Heck, call every day until the end of the special session! I'm going to. 1-800-252-9600.

[sonias]

5. Good for you tbyg52!

Welcome to DU! We don't bite, I promise.
:hi:

Believe me Perry knows how important paper ballots are to verifiable elections which is exactly why he's opposed to them. But that shouldn't stop you from giving him a call. The chances of getting VVPAT bills on the special session are pretty close to "when hell freezes" over but hey, stranger things have happened. And it's always good to let the Gov. know what the people think, even though he could give a rat's ass.

Our biggest obstacle is not even Perry it's Mary Denny on the Elections committee in the House. She and Craddick don't want Texans to get too comfortable having their votes count. They like the status quo -.i.e. where they rule.

The good news is that there are efforts underway to at least get the issue moving on the Senate side again. Senator Robert Duncan pretty much killed Senator Shapleigh's bill (SB94) in this last session, but we hear he's warming up to it for the next go around.

Sonia

[tbyg52]

6. Thanks for the info and the greeting!

:toast:

It's good to know about Mary Denny, and good to hear that Senator Shapleigh will try again (but it's sure a long time until the next regular session).

I know it's no chance (re Perry), but it doesn't cost anything except a little time (well, a few tax pennies for the 800 number), and I've seen several cases lately where people shouting *all at once* really did accomplish something.

I put the word out on everything I had access to, and hope that others will spread the word also. If I had some kind of organization, I'd try to get up a petition and get it in the news, but I don't yet. (Working on it.)

The main thing that struck me about the Election Assessment Hearing was the total lack of coverage in the mainstream. I've got to think it was just refusal to cover it--surely the people who organized it *tried* to get the mainstream interested......?

[PDittie]

8. Likewise, welcome to DU tbyg52

Here's another synopsis of the Election Assessment Hearing from DUer Amaryllis, with comments from a few DUers in attendance (sadly, though I intended to be one of those, I was not):

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x382796

And some photos are posted at the site (Bev Harris warning for those who can't stand the sight of her):

http://www.electionassessment.org/

[newyawker99]

7. Hi tbyg52!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[crispini]

9. Welcome to DU!

Please don't be intimidated! We're all Democrats here! :)

Great idea! and if you are interested in voting activism, that's right up Sonia's alley! :) She's a great resource and a credit to DU!

[PDittie]

10. A transcript of the Baker-Carter commission hearing

on federal election reform, as well as video, can be found here:

http://www.american.edu/ia/cfer/hearings.htm

(this was the 6/30 hearing at Rice University, which the EAH countered on 6/29)