Election Reform in One Fell Swoop

The comprehensive Count Every Vote Act promises: Paper trails that voters can verify on the spot Fairly allotted voting machines and shorter lines Same-day voter registration Restored voting rights for ex-felons Fully accessible ballot boxes for all Americans Read the summary » Yesterday, Senator Hillary Clinton introduced what’s been termed the “gold standard” of bills aimed at comprehensive election reform (S. 804). Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones did the same in the House (H.R. 1381). If we act now, this legislation could help prevent many of the problems that have marred our recent elections. American citizens should not be hampered by unfair barriers to the ballot box or worried about vanishing votes. This legislation requires paper trails, inaugurates same-day registration, restores the right to vote to former felons, banishes impossibly long lines and unfair allotments of voting machines, and more. It’s time for all of us who care about democracy to act. Tell your elected officials to support this legislation by signing on as a co-sponsor! Because the legislative process can be cumbersome and because states need time to implement this law by 2008, we only have a few dwindling months to push legislation through Congress. Time is critical, and the clock is ticking! How many times should our democracy take it on the chin before we put up a strong guard? Together with our affiliate, PFAW Foundation, we launched the Democracy Campaign to reform our election system because we shouldn’t suffer more of the same bruising when millions of voters turn out for the 2008 presidential election. We can’t tolerate another 2006—with 18,000 vanishing votes from electronic machines in Florida, bogus and misleading “Democratic Sample Ballots,” and frustrating robocalls made on behalf of the National Republican Congressional Committee. This bill will help. We can’t bear another 2004—with impossibly long lines in predominantly minority neighborhoods, unsavory attempts to purge voters from the rolls, and disingenuous efforts to hamstring voter registration drives. This bill will help. And we certainly can’t suffer another 2000—with hanging chads, butterfly ballots, and endless legal fights. This bill will help. Tell your elected officials to support this legislation by signing on as a co-sponsor! Right after the 2006 elections, we asked you to petition the new Congress to make election reform a part of the 100-hour plan. Then we asked you to urge your senators to co-sponsor Barack Obama’s bill punishing deception and intimidation. When Congressman Rush Holt introduced a bill that pulls away the veil of secrecy enshrouding voting machines, we asked you to help move that bill forward by signing that petition. Now before the House and Senate is comprehensive legislation. We must act now for fair elections, and we ask you to push your Senators and Representative to co-sponsor once again. -- Your Allies at People For the American Way P.S. Representatives John Conyers and Rahm Emanuel have introduced into the House a version of Senator Obama’s bill that punishes voter intimidation and deceptive practices. We’ll keep you updated! http://www.pfaw.org/go/CEVA-Action