ACTION - VIVA 2005 - Ask Your Senators to Stand Up for Election Reform

[dzika]

VIVA 2005 - Ask Your Senators to Stand Up for Election Reform

Dear Election Reform Activist,


Here at Common Cause, our work to fix the flawed election system continues. Two weeks ago, we called on you to help us fund production costs for DVD and audio programs about the 2004 election and the need for comprehensive election reform. We needed $20,000 and you came through. Thank you for your commitment.

Last week we also invited you to tell us how you prioritized the issues on our 2005 agenda. Election reform received the highest percentage of votes, 29%, of the six issues we listed.

It's clear that election reform matters to you. That's why we are writing to you today with another request. Please call your senators and ask them to support the Voting and Integrity Act of 2005 ("VIVA 2005"):

www.commoncause.org/VIVA2005


This legislation will fix one of the many problems in our election system - paperless, non-recountable, flawed electronic voting machines. You have probably heard of the scandalous behavior of Diebold, the major manufacturer of these machines whose CEO declared he would 'deliver' Ohio's votes for Bush. And you may know that hundreds of computer scientists, especially those with expertise in computer security, have raised the alarm about vulnerabilities or simple errors in the software.

Now, we can do something about it. Viva 2005 is waiting to be introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator John Ensign (R-NV). In a truly a bi-partisan effort, Democratic Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Assistant Minority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), will be co-sponsoring the bill. You can find out who your Senators are by clicking on this link.

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If one or both of your senators is Republican, ask them to consider co-sponsoring the bill, VIVA 2005:

www.commoncause.org/VIVA2005R

The goal is to get as many Republican co-sponsors as possible. With strong Republican support, this bill will stand a chance of passage.

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Conversely, if one or both of your senators is Democratic, simply ask them to support the bill:

www.commoncause.org/VIVA2005D

Let them know that you believe a voter verified paper ballot is crucial to insuring our nation's election integrity.

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Viva 2005 requires that:

1. Voters in federal elections be able to review a paper version of their ballot before it is cast and counted.
   
   
2. Paper ballots and electronic ballots produced by a voting machine must match. In the event of discrepancies, the voter verified paper ballot would be considered the correct record of the votes cast.
   
   
3. In the event of a recount or audit, the paper ballots would be used as the official record of votes cast.

As you can see, the bill is narrowly focused on the paper trail issue. For more information, read the text of the bill as introduced last year. The provisions will take effect in time for the 2006 general election. It applies only to federal elections because the U.S. Congress doesn't have jurisdiction over state elections. However, if this bill becomes law, it will have the practical effect of compelling states to follow suit.

So please call your two senators and ask them to support this important bill today:

www.commoncause.org/VIVA2005

Thank you for all you do for Common Cause.

Sincerely,

Chellie Pingree
CEO & President, Common Cause

Support Common Cause:
www.commoncause.org/AmplifyElectionReform

Simply click on the links above to send emails to your Republican or Democratic senators!

[Vincardog]

1. done and kick

[marions ghost]

2. thanks dzika

Glad to see Common Cause getting involved with the election issues.

OK am going to write in support of VIVA which is not ideal, but at least it makes the voter-verified paper record override the electronic votes. As Andy Stephenson said, it's a compromise which leaves an opening for introducing further measures.

Personally I would rather junk the machines, but this at least may help put the brakes on them.

[dzika]

3. DU helped to set the Common Cause agenda

An action item posted last week in this forum helped to set this Common Cause agenda. Of the 5 or 6 choices in the Common Cause poll, Election Reform easily won.

Now, we need to take the next step of letting our Senators know that Election Reform is an important issue for them to support.

VIVA may not be the best solution and it certainly won't be the final solution but this is a good way to let Republican and Democratic Senators know that we aren't going away.

Send your Senators an email now!

[helderheid]

5. done and thank you!

[emlev]

4. Support our comrades who are lobbying on the Hill today

Four progressive grassroots activists are in DC this week lobbying trying to get more Republican sponsors on this bill. They want to hear the phones ringing when they walk into those Senators' offices! Can we help 'em out?