Call Nancy Pelosi And Tell Her to Vote No On The Holt DRE Bill

Call Nancy Pelosi And Tell Her to Vote No On The Holt DRE Bill

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People for the American Way (PFAW) --- previously the "good guys" in many a fight for your democracy --- continues their misleading campaign to support Rep. Rush Holt's dangerous Election Reform Bill (HR 811).

The bill, as written, currently fails on a number of levels -- most notably, its institutionalization of the use of disenfranchising Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) touch-screen voting machines for all of America. Such machines use secret, unverifiable, invisible ballots to count your vote.

PFAW actually prefers the use of DRE touch-screen voting systems over paper based systems, and thus, has become the number one supporter of the Holt bill. Worse, they are joining (perhaps even leading) Holt's office in misleading America about what the bill does and doesn't do.

As HR 811 comes towards the U.S. House floor for a vote, PFAW is ramping up their efforts by sending out emails to members requesting they call Nancy Pelosi's office at (202) 225-4965. We suggest you do the same. But demand that Pelosi amend the bill to include a ban on DRE voting systems or otherwise vote against the bill.

Then send this item to everyone you know!

Among the dishonest information propagated by PFAW during their pro-Holt campaign: the claim that a DRE ban could not pass in a Democratic-controlled Congress, despite such a ban passing recently passing in the state of Florida with a Republican House and Senate.

Among the knowingly dishonest, Frank Luntz-like deceptions that PFAW is now shamefully using in their continuing disinfo campaign (online version here, excerpts posted below from their recent email) are the following misleading and/or incorrect claims about provisions in the Holt bill:

It would avoid the problem that occurred last November in Sarasota when 18,000 votes were lost on touch-screen DRE systems. It wouldn't. And they know that.
It would require that "ALL voting machines must produce a paper ballot." It doesn't. And they know that.
It would require that "ALL voting machine vendors MUST make the machines' software available for inspection." It does. But only for so-called "experts," only after a problem is discovered in an election, and only if those "experts" sign non-disclosure agreements. Despite PFAW's claim that the bill will allow for "No Secret Source Code," the bill will continue to allow for secret source code in every American election.
PFAW should be ashamed. You can email PFAW at PFAW@PFAW.org or call them with your complaints at 202-467-4999 or 800-326-7329.

Excerpts from the PFAW deceptive email, sent this week, follows below...

“You know what happened in 2006 in Sarasota --- 18,000 votes LOST in the congressional election due to problems with paperless, electronic voting machines. We can't afford any more Sarasotas, and the Holt bill can help make sure something like that does not happen in '08.

Rep. Holt's bill requires the following for ALL federal elections starting in 2008:

Paper Ballots --- ALL voting machines must produce a paper ballot
Audits --- ALL voting machines must be audit-able
No Secret Source Code --- ALL voting machine vendors MUST make the machines' software available for inspection
Ban on Wireless Devices --- Prohibits wireless technology in voting machines”
Please make the call!

Rep. Nancy Pelosi
Phone: (202) 225-4965
Yes, "please make the call," but when you call, tell Pelosi to do the right thing for American democracy, and require a real paper ballot --- one that is actually counted --- for every vote cast in America.

The Holt bill should NOT be even considered until it includes such a provision.




All the best,
VR




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