EMERGENCY PAPER BALLOT BILL IN HOUSE! KERRY/FEINGOLD ISSUE SENATE RES!

[BradBlog]

EMERGENCY PAPER BALLOT LEGISLATION INTRODUCED IN HOUSE BY HOLT, NEW 'SENSE OF THE SENATE' RESOLUTION FILED BY FEINGOLD, KERRY!

Kerry Joins Original Senate Bill as Co-Sponsor, Joins with Feingold in Filing New Senate Resolution as Well!

Feingold Says, 'Back-up Paper Ballots Essential to Preventing Disasters', Kerry Calls Situation 'Disgrace, National Scandal, Requiring Emergency Action Now'!

-- By Brad Friedman

Representative Rush Holt (D-NJ) has now filed a U.S. House version of the Emergency Paper Ballot legislation introduced yesterday by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Chris Dodd (D-CT) in the Senate.

Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Russ Feingold (D-WI) joined the Senate legislation as co-sponsors late last evening.

Additionally, Kerry and Feingold both have now co-sponsored and introduced a new "Sense of the Senate Resolution" calling on States around the country to act immediately to put back-up plans in place to have "Emergency Paper Ballots" at the polling places this November to avoid voters being turned away when voting machines fail to work. Thousands, so far this year, have been turned away in one state primary after another due to machine malfunction or unavailability.

The language in the Holt bill filed in the House late last night is identical to the bill filed by Boxer, except that it notes, explicitly, that the "contigency paper ballots" the Federal government will reimburse states for are to be counted as regular ballots — not as provisional ballots which often go completely uncounted, and must be vetted first to determine a voter's registration status.

Feingold and Kerry issued a press release today (posted in full at the end of this article) calling on Congress to act immediately in the face of what they describe as "a national disgrace," in reference to voters being turned away at the polling place for lack of voting system on which to vote.

Holt's bill, which can be downloaded here , differs from the Senate bill by stating that jurisdictions who wish to reimbursed by the Federal government for such contingency paper ballots must treat "each such contingency paper ballot cast by a voter as a regular ballot cast in the election and counts it accordingly, and does not treat it as a provisional ballot."

Kerry and Feingold, who are now co-sponsors of the Boxer/Dodd Senate bill filed yesterday, also issued a non-binding "Sense of the Senate" resolution this morning. Pamela Leavy originally reported the news earlier today at Democratic Daily.

In a press release issued earlier along with that resolution today, Feingold said, "We cannot allow the American people to lose faith in the most fundamental aspect of our democratic system ­the right to vote."

He added, "Some of the problems we saw this year, like voters in Maryland being told to come back later because the machines weren’t working, are simply unacceptable. A back-up plan as simple as having emergency paper ballots on hand is essential to preventing election day disasters."

Kerry, who has been criticized for not taking enough action to ensure that votes were counted accurately, or at all, in Ohio after the 2004 Presidential Election, had even stronger words, calling the lack of action by Congress and the White House on these matters, "a disgrace" and a "national scandal".

"It’s a disgrace that a Congress and an Administration which talks about exporting democracy around the world ignores the challenges of our own democracy right here at home," says Kerry in this morning's news release. "We have seen American citizens disenfranchised in our elections for the simple reason that no effective back up system was in place. That’s a national scandal."

Kerry called for "emergency action" and points to the recent meltdown in Maryland's September 12th primary election, which resulted in the Republican Governor there, calling for a similar measure to scrap the machines, and allow all voters in the state to use paper ballots this November.

"ere we are, 42 days away from another election," Kerry said, "and Congress has again dragged its feet even after we mobilized 35,000 citizens to demand a hearing for our Count Every Vote Act, even after what we saw just this month in Montgomery County . We need emergency action now. That is why I am co-sponsoring the Dodd-Boxer legislation to provide emergency paper ballots and that is why Russ Feingold and I are introducing our resolution today demanding election day back-up plans."

"We have a duty to ensure that no citizen will be denied the right to vote in 2006," Kerry concluded.

The BRAD BLOG began the call for Emergency Paper Ballot legislation just over a week ago.

The SoS Project has set up a page where citizens can contact Congress Members to demand they pass this legislation in the few days left before breaking for the Election Recess.

We urge all democracy loving citizens to use this link and contact Congress immediately:
http://tinyurl.com/ojd4r

FULL STORY & COMPLETE TEXT OF FEINGOLD/KERRY NEW RELEASE:
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=3539

[Ramsey]

1. This sounds great

But Congress is only in session until Friday until after the election. Isn't the timing a little late in the game?

[blm]

3. Emergency action calls for holding sessions over, doesn't it?

Isn't that what Boxer, Dodd, Kerry, and Feingold are trying for here?

[BradBlog]

13. Yup - So please get to work!

Yes, it's late. But at least it's getting done!

PLEASE call them, write them, do whatever you can to encourge them to pass this NOW (Call Republicans as much as Dems!)

[catchnrelease]

15. Called my rep

Juanita Millender-McDonald..........said it is critical for her to support this. The guy answering at her office said she is very aware of the possibility of voting fraud without paper, and she IS supporting it. He practically gave me a lecture on how important it is, and voters must be able to have confidence when they cast their ballots, etc etc. Kind of made me laugh, I said he'd made me very happy. Keeping my fingers crossed that it will go thru, thanks for the heads up.

[Freddie Stubbs]

2. Congress will be in recess after Friday and

will not return until after the elections. These bills won't even get committee hearings in that time, let alone come up for a floor vote.

[LSparkle]

4. They can always stay later -- I've heard they may work through wkend

[babylonsister]

6. Dems in the House TODAY were trying to extend the time

they put in past Friday due to issues not addressed or completed. Repugs were shooting them down.

[Wisconsin Larry]

5. How about they don't adjourn? If my work is not done, I don't

get to go home. Why should they?

[aquart]

7. Republicans don't want Americans to vote.

It's the only way they can stay in power.

[kimmerspixelated]

8. Other than the obvious reasons

why it would be great, one thing for sure .. if the Rethugs contest it, their dirty cards will finally be on the table! How will they answer to a vote of No!

[humbled_opinion]

9. This must happen

We should not have to fight after election day because ballots are screwed up and Diebold Machines are {acting up} right.... Get it done now and get it done right...

[cascadiance]

10. The DNC asked me for money today...

I told them that they need to come out and publicly endorse the bill that Boxer, Fengold, etc. are trying to get through. Then I might consider putting money in their coffers. They already had it half right when they belatedly endorsed a manual count of CA50 votes here. I told the DCCC a week ago though to take a hike if they can't do anything to support election integrity when they called asking for money.

Brad, you rock! Next time I'll buy you a beer to put in that Sibel mug I gave you earlier...

[jarnocan]

11. I love him -sen. petitions here PDA on PDA site can write/call reps too.

http://capwiz.com/pdamerica/issues/alert/?alertid=9055781&queueid=

http://ga4.org/campaign/confidence_...rce=count_votes


Quote:
"This is a win-win for local governments and for individual voters. The "Confidence in Voting Act" will make it easier for states to do the right thing in this November's election -- and it will make the American people more confident about the outcome. "

not sure it goes far enough but it is a step in the right direction

Quote:
"It urges local jurisdictions to make paper ballots available at every polling place, so any voter who wants one can use one. "

I adore Russ Holt:)

[jarnocan]

12. PDA HOLT bill 6187 link

support REP. emergency VERIFIABLE elction bill NOW
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://capwiz.com/pdamerica/officials/congress/?view=myofficials&azip=27357&bzip=9446&lvl=C&submit.x=22&submit.y=17

Quote:
"Now Holt's HOUSE Paper Ballot Bill Needs Support!

Please Urge Your Rep to Co-Sponsor for HR 6187! "

[Earth_First]

14. ANYONE (R) or (D) caught dragging their feet on this one NEED to be ousted

No questions asked.

[lonestarnot]

17. Throw them out with the torture fuckers.

[vanboggie]

16. Question

Does this allow for a person who simply does not trust the machines to use an emergency paper ballot? Or is it only IF a machine fails?

[emlev]

18. Call/Fax your Senators and Reps: Here's a link to their #s

Click here.

Pass it on.

[wisteria]

19. I hope this gets somewhere. It is so important. Go Feingold/Kerry! n/t

[Canuckistanian]

20. About bloody time

Although a bit late, this would be great. But how does Congress get motivated to even bring this up for a vote?