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"):
http://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 going to this link: <
http://www.senate.gov/>.
If one or both of your senators is Republican, ask them to consider co-sponsoring the bill:
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.
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.
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 <
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c108:S.2437:> 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