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VIDEO: http://blip.tv/file/82767Dennis Speaks at We Count Conference 2006 Photo by Ginny RoSS September 30, 2006 Transcript of speech:
Thank you, Harvey. Thank you. Thank you, everyone. Thank you.
So I'm very appreciative of all the speakers and all the organizers of this event. Your dedication to protecting America's right to vote is vital to election reform efforts. You have proven that one person can make a difference in America. And we know that one person can single-handedly alter the outcome of an election. One person can exploit the vulnerabilities of electronic voting machines in use across the nation and dramatically change the end results. We keep hearing these reports. We saw the report of the Princeton professor the other day, who had access to some of the electronic voting machines and showed how it's possible to tamper with those machines. We ought to be very concerned about that.
You know, there are lingering questions about the 2004 election, and there ought to be. The recent primary elections across the country (Hello, Cuyahoga County) ought to offer a glimpse of the many problems that are created by these electronic machines. In addition to that, poll workers who have not been adequately trained. Then you have the lack of procedures on ballots. Even the verified voter paper trails, touted by some as a solution to security concerns with electronic voting machines, they're not an adequate solution. We know that.
And each new report that we hear really lessens our confidence in the system. It's not only that the games that are being played to suppress the vote undermine our confidence in the system, but the distrust, itself, that's out there. Just the distrust that comes from everything that we know that has happened: that is a form of disenfranchisement. Because if people don't think their vote really counts, they're not going to vote.
So, again, we're the keepers of the flame of liberty. We're the ones who have to make sure that election integrity becomes the way that we protect our entire political system. Voters have a right to know that their vote is being cast for the candidate they'd selected. They have a right to know that their vote is being counted.
Now I've heard from many of you and from people all across the country. And so, I want to announce, here, with a great deal of excitement, actually, that yesterday in the House of Representatives, as a result of hearing from people all over the country, we introduced -- with 20 cosponsors -- H.R. 6200, which amends the Help America Vote Act to require states to conduct presidential elections using paper ballots and to count those ballots by hand.
The bill is in. The bill is in. Let people all over the country know that bill is in! And it's just the beginning; it's just the beginning. But you worked to make this happen. This bill is the product of your work; but you need to know that there are many of us in Congress who hear you. H.R. 6200. So we introduce it this term, but this is now a goal. Everywhere we go in the country, we need to let people know, H.R. 6200; elections where states are required to have presidential elections using paper ballots. And the votes have to be counted by hand, and they have to be posted on the door of the precincts.
This bill came from this movement. And there will be more election reforms coming from this movement. I'm urging you to be of courage; to continue your passion; to continue your commitment to the deeper meaning of democracy. There's something very important about this group that has come together.
You know, I've seen so many things happening in America in the past few years. I've seen people who went out front and challenged the war. And then they were marginalized for a few years until, suddenly, somebody woke up and said, "My God, those people were right!" I saw people who were talking about the dangers to the global climate from all of the chlorofluorocarbons and all the carbon-based energy products. And then they were marginalized. But then, all of a sudden, someone woke up one day and said, "My God, those people were right!"
And now there are still a lot of people sleeping about this election issue.
Well, you know, the exception to the rule proves there's a new rule on the way.
And you know exactly what I'm talking about. You've been out there. You've been pushing this issue, and people go, "Right!" and you get marginalized. But you know what? It won't be long before all of America is going to be following the song that's being sung by the people in this room. It's a song of liberty! It's a song of free elections! It's a song of fair elections! It's a song of democracy! It's a song of a vision of America that really is government of the people, by the people, and for the people! We've got a new beginning! Let's keep moving! Let's make our elections honest and fair and every vote count! We count! We count! We count! We count! We count! We count! We count! We count! We count! We count! We count!
Thank you!
http://www.kucinichforcongress.us/messages/dk2006100601.php
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