Election Reform: It's Now or Never

Congress is holding hostage an election reform bill numbered HR 550.

That bill is the most comprehensive piece of election reform legislation written, has bi-partisan sponsorship with 159 co-sponsors.

Anyone who has any idea about how badly we need election reform will take action to help see that HR 550 is passed before the end of the year.

Some details about 550:
Combining the call for voter-verified paper audit records with mandated, unannounced, random audit of election results, and linking prohibition of undisclosed software and internet connection with accessibility measures, H.R. 550, if passed, would force the Diebold, ES&S, Sequoia e-voting and vote-counting junkware out of the market.

That bears repeating:
H.R. 550, if passed, would force the Diebold, ES&S, Sequoia e-voting and vote-counting junkware out of the market.

The sponsor of the bill, Rush Holt (NJ) has a petition, online.
Please sign Rush Holt's petition and write to your Rep if he/she is not on the H.R.550 co-sponsor list.

http://www.rushholt.com/petition.html

For more info, see:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=404110&mesg_id=404110

:kick:

I'm so f---ing glad he represents my state.


(P.S. Petition signed.)

I hope to go the meeting tonight and speak.

petition signed and calling my congress critter.

This bill could make it happen MUCH FASTER than I ever thought it could. I wouldn't say "now or never," because of the obstacle of Bush "pod people" in Congress and possible collusion/corruption of people like Christopher Dodd. But with Delay gone, and their incredible and growing list of major scandals, it might be possible.

Keeping my fingers crossed. Pushing my reps. Go for it!

ELECTION TRANSPARENCY NOW--not later--NOW!

Throw Diebold and ES&S election theft machines into 'Boston Harbor' NOW!

Thanks everyone! Let's keep it moving until it hits home base!
List of co-sponsors:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x404110

co-sponsoring. Thank those who are. (All Dems except as noted by "Repub.") (--it's mostly Dems, of course. The other side has benefited well from the non-transparency of our elections.)

Rep Abercrombie, Neil - 2/2/2005
Rep Ackerman, Gary L. - 3/2/2005

Rep Allen, Thomas H. - 2/2/2005
Rep Andrews, Robert E. - 11/18/2005

Rep Baird, Brian - 2/2/2005
Rep Baldwin, Tammy - 2/2/2005

Rep Barrow, John - 9/6/2005
Rep Becerra, Xavier - 2/9/2005

Rep Berkley, Shelley - 4/5/2005
Rep Berman, Howard L. - 2/2/2005

Rep Berry, Marion - 3/17/2005
Rep Bishop, Sanford D., Jr. - 2/16/2005

Rep Bishop, Timothy H. - 2/16/2005
Rep Blumenauer, Earl - 2/10/2005

Rep Bono, Mary - 9/28/2005 Repub
Rep Boucher, Rick - 4/5/2005

Rep Boyd, Allen - 3/2/2005
Rep Brady, Robert A. - 4/20/2005

Rep Brown, Corrine - 2/16/2005
Rep Brown, Sherrod - 2/9/2005

Rep Butterfield, G. K. - 3/17/2005
Rep Capps, Lois - 2/2/2005

Rep Cardin, Benjamin L. - 9/27/2005
Rep Cardoza, Dennis A. - 6/24/2005

Rep Carnahan, Russ - 9/13/2005
Rep Carson, Julia - 2/16/2005

Rep Case, Ed - 2/2/2005
Rep Clay, Wm. Lacy - 2/2/2005

Rep Cleaver, Emanuel - 9/13/2005
Rep Cole, Tom - 2/2/2005 Repub

Rep Conyers, John, Jr. - 2/2/2005
Rep Cooper, Jim - 2/2/2005

Rep Crowley, Joseph - 2/16/2005
Rep Cummings, Elijah E. - 2/9/2005

Rep Davis, Danny K. - 3/2/2005
Rep Davis, Jim - 3/2/2005

Rep Davis, Susan A. - 4/20/2005
Rep Davis, Tom - 2/2/2005 Repub

Rep DeFazio, Peter A. - 2/2/2005
Rep DeGette, Diana - 3/2/2005

Rep Delahunt, William D. - 2/16/2005
Rep DeLauro, Rosa L. - 3/10/2005

Rep Dicks, Norman D. - 2/2/2005
Rep Dingell, John D. - 3/17/2005

Rep Doggett, Lloyd - 2/16/2005
Rep Doyle, Michael F. - 2/16/2005

Rep Emanuel, Rahm - 2/16/2005
Rep Engel, Eliot L. - 4/5/2005

Rep Eshoo, Anna G. - 2/2/2005
Rep Etheridge, Bob - 2/16/2005

Rep Evans, Lane - 11/18/2005
Rep Farr, Sam - 2/2/2005

Rep Filner, Bob - 2/2/2005
Rep Fitzpatrick, Michael G. - 6/24/2005 Repub

Rep Ford, Harold E., Jr. - 3/10/2005
Rep Frank, Barney - 2/9/2005

Rep Gonzalez, Charles A. - 9/28/2005
Rep Gordon, Bart - 4/5/2005

Rep Green, Gene - 6/24/2005
Rep Grijalva, Raul M. - 2/16/2005

Rep Gutierrez, Luis V. - 2/16/2005
Rep Hastings, Alcee L. - 2/2/2005

Rep Higgins, Brian - 2/9/2005
Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. - 2/2/2005

Rep Honda, Michael M. - 2/9/2005
Rep Hooley, Darlene - 2/16/2005

Rep Inslee, Jay - 2/16/2005
Rep Israel, Steve - 4/5/2005

Rep Issa, Darrell E. - 9/6/2005 Repub
Rep Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. - 4/5/2005

Rep Jackson-Lee, Sheila - 3/2/2005
Rep Johnson, Eddie Bernice - 2/16/2005

Rep Jones, Stephanie Tubbs - 2/2/2005
Rep Kanjorski, Paul E. - 5/11/2005

Rep Kaptur, Marcy - 2/2/2005
Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. - 5/26/2005

Rep Kildee, Dale E. - 2/9/2005
Rep Kilpatrick, Carolyn C. - 2/2/2005

Rep Kind, Ron - 2/2/2005
Rep Kucinich, Dennis J. - 2/2/2005

Rep Kuhl, John R. "Randy", Jr. - 6/24/2005 Repub
Rep Lantos, Tom - 2/2/2005

Rep Larsen, Rick - 2/9/2005
Rep Lee, Barbara - 2/2/2005

Rep Levin, Sander M. - 7/13/2005
Rep Lewis, John - 2/9/2005

Rep Lowey, Nita M. - 3/2/2005
Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. - 2/2/2005

Rep Markey, Edward J. - 4/5/2005
Rep Matheson, Jim - 2/9/2005

Rep McCarthy, Carolyn - 2/9/2005
Rep McCollum, Betty - 2/9/2005

Rep McDermott, Jim - 2/2/2005
Rep McGovern, James P. - 2/2/2005

Rep McKinney, Cynthia A. - 2/2/2005
Rep McNulty, Michael R. - 3/2/2005

Rep Meehan, Martin T. - 9/6/2005
Rep Meek, Kendrick B. - 3/2/2005

Rep Menendez, Robert - 9/13/2005
Rep Michaud, Michael H. - 2/9/2005

Rep Miller, Brad - 7/21/2005
Rep Miller, George - 2/9/2005

Rep Mollohan, Alan B. - 2/2/2005
Rep Moore, Dennis - 2/2/2005

Rep Moore, Gwen - 9/6/2005
Rep Moran, James P. - 2/2/2005

Rep Murtha, John P. - 2/16/2005
Rep Nadler, Jerrold - 2/2/2005

Rep Napolitano, Grace F. - 2/9/2005
Rep Neal, Richard E. - 9/13/2005

Rep Oberstar, James L. - 2/2/2005
Rep Obey, David R. - 2/2/2005

Rep Olver, John W. - 2/16/2005
Rep Owens, Major R. - 2/9/2005

Rep Pallone, Frank, Jr. - 2/9/2005
Rep Pascrell, Bill, Jr. - 2/2/2005

Rep Pastor, Ed - 2/16/2005
Rep Payne, Donald M. - 2/2/2005

Rep Petri, Thomas E. - 2/9/2005 Repub
Rep Price, David E. - 2/2/2005

Rep Rahall, Nick J., II - 2/16/2005
Rep Ramstad, Jim - 9/6/2005 Repub

Rep Rangel, Charles B. - 2/16/2005
Rep Ross, Mike - 2/9/2005

Rep Rothman, Steven R. - 3/2/2005
Rep Ryan, Tim - 2/9/2005

Rep Sabo, Martin Olav - 2/2/2005
Rep Salazar, John T. - 6/24/2005

Rep Sanchez, Linda T. - 2/9/2005
Rep Sanchez, Loretta - 2/2/2005

Rep Sanders, Bernard - 2/9/2005
Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. - 2/2/2005

Rep Schiff, Adam B. - 2/2/2005
Rep Schwartz, Allyson Y. - 6/24/2005

Rep Scott, Robert C. - 2/2/2005
Rep Serrano, Jose E. - 2/9/2005

Rep Sherman, Brad - 2/2/2005
Rep Slaughter, Louise McIntosh - 5/5/2005

Rep Smith, Adam - 4/5/2005
Rep Snyder, Vic - 2/16/2005

Rep Solis, Hilda L. - 2/9/2005
Rep Stark, Fortney Pete - 4/5/2005

Rep Stupak, Bart - 3/10/2005
Rep Taylor, Gene - 11/18/2005

Rep Thompson, Mike - 2/16/2005
Rep Tierney, John F. - 2/9/2005

Rep Towns, Edolphus - 2/16/2005
Rep Udall, Mark - 2/9/2005

Rep Udall, Tom - 3/2/2005
Rep Van Hollen, Chris - 2/2/2005

Rep Velazquez, Nydia M. - 7/13/2005
Rep Wasserman Schultz, Debbie - 2/9/2005

Rep Watson, Diane E. - 3/10/2005
Rep Waxman, Henry A. - 2/2/2005

Rep Weiner, Anthony D. - 4/5/2005
Rep Wexler, Robert - 2/2/2005

Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. - 2/2/2005
Rep Wu, David - 2/2/2005

Rep Wynn, Albert Russell - 2/9/2005

;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-)

There's two names that surprise me. I'm surprised that any California Republicans are crossing party lines on this.

Anyone know the story?

-MR

:wtf:

My rep, Sandy Levin, is on the list of sponsors.

Do we really think this has a prayer with the Repubs running the show?

that she's not on board; requested a response.

Her staffer seemed surprised that she hadn't signed on yet. :)

:kick:

Thanks BeFree (any relation to World B Free)

would say. We first need to insure that there's something to count.

Name, EMail address, zip code, and YOU'RE DONE!

Takes 10 seconds, tops.

I signed the petition for H. R. 550. Proud to see my Representative, Lois Capps, is a cosponsor. Will call Nancy Pelosi's office to urge her to cosponsor, too.

That is job number one.

to the person on the phone.

I dont expect much from her on this issue.

Let's keep HR 550 moving and add sponsors, one signature at a time

Good!

I wrote my Rep to thank her for her support of election integrity. Congress needs to know people don't trust the machines and want to know their votes counted. Please sign the petition if you haven't yet and thank or ask your Rep to support HR550.

The people who must vote to CHANGE things are people who like things just fine the way they are.. They will appropriate money to nibble at the edges, but they all fear that any serious change might undermine their jobs..and no matter how much some of them might want to change things, the fact that elections are STATE issues, they are always afraid to try too much, because they probably know it would be a states' rights issue in the end anyway..

What really needs to happen is to peel off the nationally held offices from the state's elections. Once natinally held offices are a separate issue, they might be able to mandate some standards that all states would have to meet.

This sounds like a tremendous opportunity for all Americans to restore integrity and credibility to their political system.

Democrat activists have this Canadian's best wishes in this critical endeavour. And if anyone complains about the extra time or cost in making elections auditable and fully accountable, just tell them: Democracy's worth it.

Cheer up, SoCalDem! Politics is the art of the POSSIBLE!
First, sign Rush Holt's petition to ask the House Administration Committee for a hearing for H.R. 550:
http://www.rushholt.com/petition.html
Second, check if your Rep is one of the 159 H.R. 550 co-sponsors; if yes, thanks him/her; if no read H.R. 550 and ask why on earth he/she doesn't not support clean and secure election.
Third, figure out how your state plan can work out for all 50 states, blue ones and red ones, and tell us all about it. We'll be glad to support it if it makes sense. But don't waste any of your and our time with sour grapes.
:toast:

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

This is one step in the right direction towards free and fair elections.

It's worth it.

:yourock:

H.R.4463
Title: To prohibit deceptive practices in Federal elections.
Sponsor: Rep Holt, Rush D. (introduced 12/7/2005) Cosponsors (21)
Latest Major Action: 12/7/2005 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
--------------------------------------------------------------
COSPONSORS(21)
Rep Brady, Robert A. - 12/7/2005 Rep Brown, Sherrod - 12/7/2005
Rep Carson, Julia - 12/7/2005 Rep DeFazio, Peter A. - 12/7/2005
Rep Grijalva, Raul M. - 12/7/2005 Rep Hastings, Alcee L. - 12/7/2005
Rep Jackson-Lee, Sheila - 12/7/2005 Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. - 12/7/2005
Rep Kilpatrick, Carolyn C. - 12/7/2005 Rep Lantos, Tom - 12/7/2005
Rep Lee, Barbara - 12/7/2005 Rep Lewis, John - 12/7/2005
Rep McGovern, James P. - 12/7/2005 Rep Michaud, Michael H. - 12/7/2005
Rep Moore, Gwen - 12/7/2005 Rep Nadler, Jerrold - 12/7/2005
Rep Owens, Major R. - 12/7/2005 Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. - 12/7/2005
Rep Scott, Robert C. - 12/7/2005 Rep Snyder, Vic - 12/7/2005
Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. - 12/7/2005

:kick: