WA State Election Reform needs your help

[suffragette]

The process for Election Reform in WA is not going well. The public meetings for the task group are being held in counties that voted for Rossi and are being crammed with people wanting to restrict voting rights. The people addressing Election Reform issues regarding concerns with DRE’s, concerns about voter disenfranchisement and the need for voter verified paper ballots are being drowned out.

I attended an Election Task Group meeting held in WA state and was wondering why so many people were singing the same song of “voter fraud,” mandatory voter ID, re-registration of all WA voters and "cleansing" of voter registration lists.
Of course, some of this goes back to the contentious governor’s race here, but it seemed to go farther. I think I found the group that wrote the “song lyrics” and it’s a cause for concern, both here and elsewhere.

An organization called Evergreen Freedom Foundation (EFF), which has started a group called Grassroots Washington which is focused on influencing the election reform process. EFF is a conservative group funded by conservative organizations including the Walton Foundation (Walmart's grantmaking arm). EFF has spent much of its time campaigning against union's rights to contribute money to political causes or campaigns, especially targeting the Washington Education Association. Now they are working hard to shape Election Reform in WA State by pushing an agenda that takes the focus off of true Election Reform and which is based on unsubstantiated claims of Voter Fraud.

Here is part of their agenda (from http://www.effwa.org/grassroots.php ):
Our message should be clear. We want the task force to:
1. Require that by December 30, 2005, the state conduct a 100% new registration with people required to register in their legal name and show proof of citizenship and a birth certificate. In war-torn Iraq, they were able to accomplish this in 45 days.
2. Require photo and signature Identification before a voter can vote.
3. Require state and local election officials to implement the 2002 Federal Help America Vote Act
(HAVA) and the 2003 Legislative changes.

Number 3 seems perfectly appropriate as stated.
However, when you look deeper at their agenda on this
item, as specified at
http://www.effwa.org/Recommendations_2004Election.PDF
Item 1, section O
they are relating this to implementing requirements for voter id.

Here's a link to Grassroots WA:
http://www.effwa.org/grassroots.php
Here's a link to EFF (note the links to hate radio KVI
ath the bottom of the page):
http://www.effwa.org/vip.php#research
Here's a link to EFF funding info:
http://www.mediatransparency.org/search_results/info_on_any_recipient.php?recipientID=106
Here's a link to examination of EFF's motives in past
actions:
http://www.mediatransparency.org/recipients/eff.htm

So, what can we do?
If you are from Washington State, go to
http://governor.wa.gov/electionreform/default.htm
and fill out the online form. Also, go to one of the meetings if possible.
If you aren’t from WA, find out if similar legislation is being pushed by similar groups in your state.
Also, consider writing letters to the Washington State Secretary of State and our new Governor expressing concern with the direction of the Election Reform whether you are from WA or another state, especially if you are from a state that had problems with unverified machine counts and can address the need for voter verified paper ballots here.
We need to start questioning what seems to be a concerted effort by conservative groups to enact voter ID and other restrictive legislation at the state level.

[Wilms]

1. I fear this is part of a backlash against the "Election Reform" tide.

The Republican Policy Committee published the following:

The Need for New Federal Reforms
Putting an End to Voter Fraud

• Voter fraud continues to plague our nation’s federal elections, diluting and canceling out the lawful votes of the vast majority of Americans.

• Congress began to address the problem of voter fraud when it passed the Help America Vote Act (“HAVA”) in 2002, but much work is still necessary to protect the election process from those who would undermine our democracy.

• First, Congress should require that voters at the polls show photo identification.

o Without genuine, photographic identification, the avenues for manipulation and fraud by unscrupulous individuals will remain open to exploitation.

o Government at all levels should ensure fair access to government-issued photo identification — not only for voting purposes, but so citizens can better participate in and contribute to mainstream economic and civic life.

• Second, Congress should examine the integrity of the voter registration process and the ongoing failures of states to maintain accurate voter lists.

o Current federal laws governing registration list maintenance prevent local officials from taking a zero-tolerance approach to voter fraud.

o Congress should make certain that non-citizens are not illegally registering and
voting: only Americans should decide the results of American elections.

• Third, Congress should examine the extent to which early and absentee voting increases the likelihood of fraudulent votes being cast.

o These alternative voting options should have at least as many fraud-protection safeguards as those available on Election Day.

o Congress should examine how states conduct early and absentee voting and determine whether legislation is necessary to protect voters against vote dilution through others’ fraud.

• No election-related legislation should proceed in this Congress unless these issues receive a thorough examination.

-snip/more-

It's a pdf:

<http://www.spidel.net/GOPonVoterFraud.pdf>

It's a fairly quick, and very nasty read. :scared:

[suffragette]

2. they are pushing this hard

If this gets through in the various states, we are going to have even more problems.
The arguments they are using have been used before and been proven false on close examination.
In California, Dornan made these accusations when he was beaten by Sanchez. After a year of litigation costing over a million, his charges that there was massive voter fraud were dismissed: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c105:H.RES.341:
In Wisconsin, the last attempt to enact voter id centered on similar bogus allegations. Here's a good piece on that: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/senate/sen04/news/articles/art2001-24.htm
Now, they're trying again in Wisconsin and they're trying to restrict it to driver's license, or state id card at the same time that legislation is moving through Congress on making those into a de facto national ID card overseen by Homeland Security. This could also prevent college students, many of whom only have licenses from their home states and college ID cards, from voting in the state where they attend college even though they reside in that state.
Voter ID has been used to attempt to disenfranchise groups of people, particularly Native Americans: http://www.aclu.org/VotingRights/VotingRights.cfm?ID=16914&c=32
Showing voter ID doesn't even address some of the issues they say it does. In WA, one of the big issues for the Rossi camp and EFF was the accusation that felons who had not had their voting rights restored voted. A requirement to show ID would not stop that (had it even occurred in large numbers, which is doubtful) since the people in question do have valid ID cards. This is an issue addressed when validating and counting votes.
There is a concerted effort and a lot of money being spent to push this through on the state level.
We need to come together to strongly oppose these attempts.

[msongs]

3. same problem in California........the dems majority is refusing to

act on behalf of the state's democrats by standing up to and opposing the austrian bully and thug who is systematically reducing the dems powering and the dems are going along with it.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

[crispini]

4. kick

and bookmarked.

the only efforts I know of in my state are Dems, but I'll keep an eye open....

[suffragette]

5. thanks crispini

I appreciate your KOEB support.

[Kip Humphrey]

6. Welcome to the war, Washington.

The governorship was just the beginning skirmish. Thanks for IDing EFF, btw.

I recommend you start organizing Teach-ins like what is happening in California.

Also, you need a solid, realistic solution - check my Oregon proposal for ideas: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x329571.

Email, flyer, and LttE campaigns, meetups, and protests should follow on the heels of election reform teach-ins.

[suffragette]

9. your post is fantastic

We did have people at the task group meeting addressing issues like non-verifiable DRE's and proposing solutions. Many of the people raising these concerns were long-time software engineers and programmers.
We were completely outnumbered.
They are pushing the legislation through fast. I think by the time we organized a teach-in, they might have this wrapped up.
Am spreading the word as much as possible to encourage Email, flyer, and LttE campaigns.

[SaveAmerica]

7. Do you mind if I copy the entire post and e-mail to my family in WA? nt

[suffragette]

8. I would appreciate it if you do that.

They are moving this through fast. The PI said some of the bills have moved out of committee and could be voted on next week.

[dzika]

10. This is very troubling...

Rossi press releases continue to use the "Rossi for Governor" logo. Neocons along with local right-wing media are doing every thing possible to enrage Rossi supporters so that they remain active.

The Rossi campaign is coaching its' supporters on how to complain about the election to influence the pending court case and the election reform process.

---

From the WashBlog site:
February 16, 2005


Election Reform Task Force

The Republicans are dominating the media perception of the election reforms, just like they tried to dominate the media during the election.

Democrats want to fix the problems uncovered in this election. We are committed to being sure that everyone entitled to vote be given the opportunity, and that every legal vote counts!

Republicans want to throw out this election just because their candidate didn't win. The ones in the outlying areas have been attended heavily by Republicans demanding a revote.


Please ask Governor Gregoire and Secretary of State Reed to hold at least one hearing in Seattle.


If you can’t go to any of the hearings, fill out the online questionnaire at :
http://www.governor.wa.gov/electionreform/form.htm

Please spread this URL to all of your contacts.

To download a read-only .pdf file to print, go to http://www.governor.wa.gov/electionreform/default.htm


Contact information

Governor Christine Gregoire
Office of the Governor
PO Box 40002, Olympia WA 98504-0002

Email form: http://gregoire2004.com/wamap.php?action=media


Sam Reed
Secretary of State
PO Box 40220 Olympia, WA 98504-0220

Email: [e-mail]


Find Your Washington State Legislators
http://www.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx


Governor Gregoire’s media blaster is still available to write to the editors of your local newspapers:
http://gregoire2004.com/wamap.php?action=media



http://washblog.typepad.com/main/2005/02/re_election_ref.html

[suffragette]

11. dzika, thanks for these important links

I absolutely agree that we need to demand a meeting in Seattle and we need to contact our reps with the info.

[bettyellen]

12. good going sufragette, we should keep this kicked.....

are there any media in particular in the area that we should blast?

[sacxtra]

17. THE MEDIA HAS A BLACKOUT n/t

[suffragette]

23. KIng County and Olympia papers would be good

That should get the message to King County voters that they aren't be included in this process by not having any of the meetings here.
Olympia is our capitol, so some legislators or staff might see it in the papers there.

[googly]

13. I don't see where showing ID & proof of citizenship is a problem

for us. All you need is a birth certificate and a drivers
license or a bank ID with picture, which my bank gives out
free.

[Land Shark]

14. Yeah, one more vote shaving technique couldn't hurt, could it?

Whose gonna forget or misplace their ID when going to the polls?

Hmmm. first time voters, younger voters, the unemployed/depressed, the elderly....

What do you think the chances are that the ID requirement will take out more Democratic voters than Republican voters?

Fairly high.

This is how the game is played, unfortunately, by the other side. Voter suppression in the name of security.

Video would give more security (fake IDs are easy) but wouldn't stop a soul from voting that really wanted to, no matter how forgetful.

Plus video would give you that precious thing for getting "criminals" called EVIDENCE. ID's are not evidence of a crime, because even when fake they are returned to the bearer.

Do you think they considered video for even a second as a substitute for an ID requirement? Since video is less burden on the right to vote?

Probably not, be we could ask.

[googly]

25. With technology what it is, it is a shame the elections do not

incorporate things like thumb prints. That way no one
has to bring any ID with them to vote. And if everyone's
thumb prints are stored with the election office, even
absentee votes could be fraud-proof.

My whole point is, all issues which throw doubts of fraud
on the voting public should be removed.

[Wilms]

15. Add people with disabilities to Land Sharks list. n/t

[sacxtra]

18. ONLY FOR FIRST TIME VOTER, OR CHANGE OF PARTY!!! n/t

[sacxtra]

16. I can help you. Here is what you need to do.

LOCALLY file an ELECTION COMPLAINT/FRAUD FORM.

in it you need to explain that electronics, digitized data and insecure networks have NO place in the United States Of America, and that by allowing it, you have been denied the Right To Vote. Because you can't tell if the vote was counted once it was digitized.

All of the contrary BILLS being suggested are being written by THE ENEMY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, IT'S CONSTITUTION, IT'S PRESIDENT.

REALITY SIMPLIFIED.


EAT THAT BAY-BEE!!

[emlev]

21. We need more than just one strategy

I appreciate your excitement about your complaint form idea. I see you've posted it on many threads. In some places it looks to me as though you're saying that other strategies are useless, that this one strategy is the only thing we should be doing.

What exactly is it you hope to accomplish by filing these forms?

Also, even if it were--as it may be--a brilliant strategy, we cannot afford to have all our eggs in one basket. And it's important that we honor the best thinking of the people on the ground in each area about what strategies they need to pursue.

I hope you will keep an eye toward this as you continue to promote your idea.

[Zappini]

19. Election Reform Task Force (Feb 24)

Hi suffragette-


Thanks for sounding the alarm. I'm glad to find other like minded persons.

Here's my write up of the Feb 14 meeting at Highline Community College:

Elect Reform Meeting Report (WA State)
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/15/21512/2002

I'm encouraging friends and associates to attend the Feb 24th meeting in Mount Vernon. I'm game for carpooling, pre-meeting pow wows, post meeting beers, and so forth.


Cheers, Jason Aaron Osgood / Seattle WA

[suffragette]

22. sounds great

Your write up of the meeting gave a good and accurate depiction of what happened. I particularly like your comment about the "Republican apparatus." They were very organized.
So, are other people up for a pre-meeting get together and carpooling, or maybe even chipping in to get a bus if there are enough of us from the Seattle area? :-)

[newyawker99]

32. Hi Zappini!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[bettyellen]

20. ,

,

[eaglenetsupport]

24. Please consider our groups position

I wish everyone would just get off this kick of using and or expecting the government is going to fix this. They simply won’t do it. Only the people will ever do what is necessary. Only the voter initiative process will ever accomplish our hopes and dreams for the promise of democracy. They’re going to attack and miss lead the public with their response, “voter fraud” is the problem when “election fraud” should be the focus.

Please folks, PLEASE look at what you are doing. Try and project, based upon what we know and history of the republiclones, how the primary method being chosen to fix this problem, (See Hillary and Reid proposals and the Ohio/Washington state efforts and others). Ask yourself after reading those “governmental” “fixes” will actually fix it and count ALL the votes.

My recommendation is to ignore the opposition and just proceed, steely eyed, and fix it. 43 states have the initiative procedure. A national agenda can be created. It’s been done by the people before, (See Prohibition fix – that’s right initiatives). Ignore all rumors the gathering is canceled. We have, before us right now, the ability to empower the people and bring massive numbers to the polls and finally bolster the boomers to take over. We’ll have one more tough election 2006. We’ll have to over come with over whelming numbers and registration with our center piece, REGISTER, REGISTER, REGISTER.
Our fixes placed in 2006 will bear fruit in 2008 with house senate and presidential victories.

Be advised, register register register is the real fix and initiatives are only the tool to motivate and empower. 25% of the whole effort between now and 2006 should be pressed into service, registration. It should start NOW and be an ongoing continuous effort. All problems, environment, war, accountability, poverty, education, etc. will fall as it is and always has been the intensions of the boomers to fix the whole planet. We have an opportunity here. Let’s not waste it.

Sorry I went off topic with fix. I’ll address punish in separate post.

[suffragette]

27. interesting approach

I look forward to hearing more about it and seeing it in action.
I looked to see if you had posted a thread on your group's project and couldn't find one. Maybe I missed it. :shrug:
If I didn't, you might want to consider doing that.
In the meantime, the opposition here is proceeding and I think we do need to show up at the meetings and voice our views. The legislation here is being crafted now and will be passed soon. I'm not ready to give up and wait. I think it is more important than ever that we stand up and speak and challenge whenever the opportunity arises.

[eaglenetsupport]

31. Let’em proceed, let us proceed

I really am getting to the point of ignoring them (the opposition). I really can’t stand listening to them any more. In fact I had my satellite turned off a little over a month now.
I’m getting more done this way anyway.

I’d go as far as reading what they end up producing, just in case it becomes necessary to add in a “rescind sec. bla bla”. I do stop short of encouraging others to follow suit as I do believe there is merit to voicing your opinion even if they are ignoring you. I’m talking about me, I just can’t handle’em any more.

As far as the initiative we’re working on, we will be releasing it Friday. In the coming month or three we’ll be seeing the fruit of initiative workers around the country coming to bear. I will be looking at each and every one of those initiatives and encouraging edits that I think will strengthen their bills. I’ll be encouraging the individual state committees whether adopting our language or coming up with language that the particular committee believes is more appropriate for their state, to hold up with filing to coincide with one big national coming out day July 4, 2005. On that day the campaign to rescue the American democratic system will begin. It won’t be necessary to have 30-40 states on board, remember prohibition took only eight to establish a national agenda. I suspect we’ll get at least ten states and probably more like 15. Once their pee-pees get whacked the remainder will fix it themselves because they’ll know we’re going to be gunning for them (watch this in the very next session) like it should have been done in the first place, by the legislatures. Check out the very first day of the very first session 1932, congress suspended all activity, did the opening prayer and with just 20 minutes of debate for the wets and 20 minutes for the dries, dumped prohibition. The voters had just thrown out three quarters of the house, almost every senator that was up, and the president. Only two seats held by dries survived. The gallery was jammed, the speaker had to keep suspending, to gavel down the chorus to old Lang sine. It was the biggest party the gallery had ever seen. Today we THINK the new deal put FDR in but in fact it was prohibition and FDR was an avowed anti-prohibitionist.

I think our initiative will invariably be the strongest (we got that Rocky Mountain High) as ours will put the stops on the vast majority of republiclone dirty deeds. No puters, all paper, establishes commission and charges that commission with strict guidelines, establishes enforcement powers to the commission with subpoena powers and the right to compel testimony similar to grand jury powers and other enforcement powers, establishes two class 3 felonies and one class 2 for acts in furtherance by two or more (conspiracy) to disenfranchise. Folks, we WILL get their attention. With the inevitable empowerment of such an initiative procedure, their going to wish they never exiled us in the first place. The boomers are coming! The boomers are coming!

[bettyellen]

26. ....

[berniew1]

28. See the Snohomish County thread; and doc. of widespread fraud

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x331377

and
http://www.flcv.com/ussumall.html

[berniew1]

29. The best way to get election reform is organize petition drivefor citizen

iniative on the ballot. Public will pass it and there's nothing the politicians who like things the way they are and are controlled by special interest can do about it.

Its time to decide on the wording and making plans to get election reform initiatives on the ballot in as many states as possible.

There's an action plan in
http://www.flcv.com/fraudpat.html

[Land Shark]

30. good idea for initiative n/t

[bettyellen]

33. ....