The Voter Confidence Resolution

[GuvWurld]

The Voter Confidence Resolution
As adopted by the City Council of Arcata, CA 7/20/05 (.pdf)

Whereas an election is a competition for the privilege of representing the people; and

Whereas each voter is entitled to cast a single ballot to record his or her preferences for representation; and

Whereas the records of individual votes are the basis for counting and potentially re-counting a collective total and declaring a winner; and

Whereas an election's outcome is a matter of public record, based on a finite collection of immutable smaller records; and

Whereas a properly functioning election system should produce unanimous agreement about the results indicated by a fixed set of unchanging records; and

Whereas recent U.S. federal elections have been conducted under conditions that have not produced unanimous agreement about the outcome; and

Whereas future U.S. federal elections cannot possibly produce unanimous agreement as long as any condition permits an inconclusive count or re-count of votes; and

Whereas inconclusive counts and re-counts have occurred during recent U.S. federal elections due in part to electronic voting devices that do not produce a paper record of votes to be re -counted if necessary; and

Whereas inconclusive results have also been caused by election machines losing data, producing negative vote totals, showing more votes than there are registered voters, and persistently and automatically swapping a voter's vote from his or her chosen candidate to an opponent; and

Whereas inconclusive results make it impossible to measure the will of the people in their preferences for representation; and

Whereas the Declaration of Independence refers to the Consent of the Governed as the self-evident truth from which Government derives "just Power";

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

Because inconclusive results, by definition, mean that the true outcome of an election cannot be known, there is no basis for confidence in the results reported from U.S. federal elections; and

Be it also resolved:

The following is a comprehensive election reform platform likely to ensure conclusive election results and create a basis for confidence in U.S. federal elections:

1) voting processes owned and operated entirely in the public domain, and
2) clean money laws to keep all corporate funds out of campaign financing, and
3) a voter verified paper ballot for every vote cast and additional uniform standards determined by a non-partisan nationally recognized commission, and
4) declaring election day a national holiday, and
5) counting all votes publicly and locally in the presence of citizen witnesses and credentialed members of the media, and
6) equal time provisions to be restored by the media along with a measurable increase in local, public control of the airwaves, and
7) presidential debates containing a minimum of three candidates, run by a non-partisan commission comprised of representatives of publicly owned media outlets, and
8) preferential voting and proportional representation to replace the winner-take-all system for federal elections;

Be it further resolved:

When elections are conducted under conditions that prevent conclusive outcomes, the Consent of the Governed is not being sought. Absent this self-evident source of legitimacy, such Consent is not to be assumed or taken for granted.

***

Endorsements

Palo Alto, CA Human Relations Commission
David Cobb, 2004 Green Party Presidential Candidate
Voter Confidence Committee of Humboldt County
Green Party - Eureka, CA, Humboldt County, CA
Progressive Democrats of WA
Veterans For Peace, Humboldt Bay Chapter 56
Black Box Voting, Inc.
Velvet Revolution
Paul R. Lehto, Attorney at Law
Jane Allen, GuvWurld contributing editor

Submit your endorsement or the version of the resolution that your City Council is considering to [e-mail]

***

The permalink for the Voter Confidence Resolution is:
http://guvwurld.blogspot.com/2005/04/voter-confidence-resolution.html

The permalink for the Guide to the Voter Confidence Resolution is:
http://guvwurld.blogspot.com/2005/06/guide-to-voter-confidence-resolution.html

[Kutjara]

1. Now there are some Amendments...

...I would love to see added to the Constitution.

[kster]

2. kick.nt

[neoblues]

3. What's Really Important: This Issue.

For this year and until we get this one basic issue rectified, this should be one of the top two or three items on everyone's list. This resolution get to the heart of it; we need to make this demand heard (by other citizens and the government), loud and clear, with the level of support needed to force appropriate attention.

[GuvWurld]

4. Think Global, Act Local

The resolution in the OP is a template. It is the exact version adopted by Arcata, CA but it is put forward as a model for other communities. The important thing is that we pursue it on the local level, challenging current conditions and withdrawing our Consent.

I've been writing about this for two years. In addition to being a primary theme throughout the GuvWurld Blog, I have also published many related articles. For starters, try this one from the Humboldt Advocate.

[nicknameless]

5. .

Recommended

[BeFree]

6. Comprehensive

Maybe too comprehensive. Surely, for most people a mind numbing exercise that turns them off.

Might I suggest a simpler, more narrowly focused resolution? One that restricts itself to just voter confidence and the lack thereof in the present day?

There are parts that are good beginings to true election reform, campaign reform, and media reform.... each deserving of its own resolution, in my mind.

[GuvWurld]

7. You may use the VCR however you wish

Again, the VCR is a template meant to be adapted in each community that considers adopting it. The adaptation process itself is valuable in that it evokes a broad dialog that will inform those in need of knowledge, and engage everyone in building a consensus vision of what is required to create a basis for confidence.

We cannot expect any one election reform, or election reform bill/measure/resolution, to create a basis for confidence. Reforms are needed in many areas, thus the inclusion of a comprehensive election reform platform. Beyond just creating a basis for confidence, we must have conditions that will ensure conclusive outcomes, unlike at present when we are assured inconclusive outcomes and a lack of unanimous acceptance of the results.

The bigger picture must also be remembered at all times. Namely, election reform should not be viewed as a goal unto itself, but rather a tactic toward peaceful revolution - defined as a shift in the balance of power between government and We The People. Going from having no say in how our leaders are chosen/Selected, to having a say in how our leaders are legitimately elected, represents such a revolutionary shift. Election integrity advocates are already doing revolutionary work, but most often we are not thinking, speaking or writing in such terms.

However, we are no longer a nation of laws and we are no longer a free people. Even best case scenarios on election reform do not necessarily address that our private communications may now be monitored, our public communications, in the form of protest, may be confined to "free speech zones," and without any cause at all we may be jailed indefinitely without charges, access to an attorney, or the opportunity to prove innocence, let alone force the government to meet its obligatory burden of proof for guilt. I am as devoted as the next person on this board to election reform but I cannot operate devoid of this larger context. To do so is to consider false alternatives that ensure our continued enslavement. Peaceful revolution is necessary, NOW!

The VCR seeks to achieve this not just by offering a comprehensive reform platform (again, as a template to be modified in every participating community), but by challenging the assumption of the continued Consent of the Governed. Everything we have suffered through as a People must be attributed in part to our inability to effectively resist and prevent such loss of our rights. In other words, we have continued to Consent, or at least allow the assumption of our Consent to stand. Shattering this assumption is the real peaceful revolutionary act and the VCR is a method by which we can deliver this message in an increasingly powerful way that intentionally lays out a path to a tipping point. Has the Consent of the Governed been withdrawn, YET? How many communities must get behind the VCR before the answer to this question switches from NO, to YES, the Consent of the Governed HAS been withdrawn.

[Wilms]

8. Can local jurisdictions pass HCPB laws?

Even if the state does not support it, or even prohibits it, and refuses to certify such tallies, could not a local jurisdiction pass law requiring HC their PB's at the precinct level providing a CHECK against whatever goes on at the county and state level?

Could they not conduct such an exercise using multi-partisan counters, and witnesses chanting; "(At least this part of) the whole world is WATCHING"?

[EFerrari]

9. Another way to "watch". Exit polling:

Don't some of you know pretty much where the worst thieving was in 2004? Couldn't we target those places in especial in November?

[Wilms]

10. Exit Polls provide me No Basis for Confidence.

Exit Polls from 2K4 provided me, and I'm sure many others, with a basis to question (ie: have No Basis for Confidence) * as victor.

But that's all.

And it led to nothing short of a pie fight even among those convinced the election was a sham.

So what good is that?

How about a ban on reporting exit polls until AFTER midnight in Hawaii?

[EFerrari]

13. They aren't going to be doing exit polls, are they?

[Wilms]

14. Not sure what you are asking.

Who is "they"?

[EFerrari]

15. I thought I read here that there would be no national exit poll

taken in 2008?

[Wilms]

16. I'm unaware of that.

Any recollection as to what may have sponsered that?

[EFerrari]

17. No. Maybe after we kill the Easter Bunny I can try doing a search.

:)

[GuvWurld]

11. Parallel Election training begins in Arcata

Parallel elections are better than exit polling in at least three ways:

1. Exit pollsters ask you to say how you voted while parallel elections ask you to cast a second secret ballot.
2. Exit pollsters interview people in narrow demographic categories and then stop asking for participation from such people. Parallel elections seek as much participation as possible.
3. Exit polls are conducted by media corporations or other companies with potential conflicts. Parallel elections are conducted via civic engagement

Judy Alter told me that their PE in San Diego this week had 77% participation. Right on!

This is from today's Eureka Reporter...

http://www.eurekareporter.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?ArticleID=10190

Election training begins in Arcata
4/16/2006

Learn how to run a parallel election and help double-check the accuracy of the official vote count at a public training session at 6 p.m. on Monday at the Redwood Peace and Justice Center, 1040 H St., Arcata.

The Voter Confidence Committee is holding the information and training session to start planning for the June 6 primary election.

In parallel elections, volunteers invite voters to participate as they leave their polling place. A ballot identical to the official one is provided, and voters are asked to record, in secret, the same votes they just cast inside. Parallel ballots are hand-counted in public after the polls close, and the numbers from that count can then provide a comparison to the official reported results.

A parallel election was held in November 2005 outside Arcata City Hall.

Organizers hope to expand their parallel polling stations to more locations countywide this year.

For more information, e-mail [e-mail].

[bleever]

12. Arcata: the Lexington/Concord of voting rights!

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[GuvWurld]

18. Additional Articles on the VCR

Much has been published about this work...

VoteTrustUSA - Arcata, The Voter Confidence Resolution, and the Importance of Paying Attention - 9/16/05
http://votetrustusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=147&Itemid=30

Lone Star Iconoclast - Arcata City, Calif. Establishes Model Voter Confidence Resolution For Nation’s Cities To Follow - 9/12/05
http://lonestaricon.com/2005/News/2005/37-38/37news02.htm

Arcata Eye - A Program To Restore Election Legitimacy - 1/18/05
http://www.guvwurld.org/cgi-bin/live.cgi?d=/Campaign%202004/No%20Confidence%20Campaign/Arcata%20Eye%20-%20A%20Program%20To%20Restore%20Election%20Legitimacy%20-%201-18-05.txt

Eureka Times-Standard - Building confidence through election reform - 1/15/05
http://www.guvwurld.org/cgi-bin/live.cgi?d=/Campaign%202004/No%20Confidence%20Campaign/Eureka%20Times-Standard%20-%20Building%20confidence%20through%20election%20reform%20-%201-14-05.txt

That's the tip of the iceberg. If the VCR is new to you, please visit the GuvWurld Blog.

[mom cat]

19. This is awesome. Thanks for the info!

:dem::toast::bounce::bounce::smoke::smoke::smoke::bounce::bounce::toast::kick:

[Amaryllis]

20. kickin

[GuvWurld]

21. Kick (eom)