The Gold Standard for Election Reform

[kerrygoddess]

The Gold Standard for Election Reform
22 February 2005

An editorial in Tuesday’s New York Times takes an objective look at election reform bills sponsored by both Democrats and Republicans in the Senate. While the Republican bill sponsored by Senator John Ensign of Nevada focuses on requiring that electronic voting machines that produce voter-verifiable paper records, it appears to fall flat from there…

Mr. Ensign's bill does not go as far as another paper-trail bill that has been introduced in the House by Representative Rush Holt, a New Jersey Democrat. That bill is preferable because it includes other safeguards, like requiring an audit of some paper records as a spot-check for the electronic totals. Still, Mr. Ensign's bill would be a good step, and its Republican sponsorship and narrow focus could give it real momentum in this Congress.

The Democratic Senate bill, introduced last week by Senators Hillary Clinton, Barbara Boxer, John Kerry and Frank Lautenberg, is now the gold standard for election reform. It would require not only paper records, but recounts in 2 percent of all polling places or precincts, and restrictions on political activity by voting machine manufacturers.

http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=413

[garybeck]

1. if it's just a paper record, it's not a great improvement

the paper must be the ballot, not the record of the ballot. otherwise we get screwed again. guaranteed.

[tommcintyre]

3. He refers to all three bills having a "paper record"

I have a feeling this is a misnomer on the part of the writer. I haven't examined the Clinton bill to see if it is a VVPB, etc. yet. Maybe it's time to read it.

BTW: Gary, your site is looking really good. I didn't notice any Conyers Hearing Stuff listed under Videos. Is that intentional? If not, things like the Clinton testimony are very informing and compelling (I think). Let me know if you need the link to the full Clinton testimony.

[tommcintyre]

2. Hmm... another "gold standard"?

"Mr. Ensign's bill would be a good step, and its Republican sponsorship and narrow focus could give it real momentum in this Congress."
A possible insight into what bill will be favored - whether its the best one or not? I hope not, but a lot of times this is how Congress works.

The other "gold standard" bill (Holt).
Some other thoughts on why this will take a while to "sort out" and pick the "best" bill.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=329523&mesg_id=331772

[tommcintyre]

4. More thoughts on the Clinton vs. Holt bill

Is the Clinton bill too broad in its focus to have a viable chance of passing?

Some thoughts here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x329523#331889