[This press release describes a "clearinghouse" for publicizing election problems, one that's intended for direct use by everyday citizens.  Next month's primary will be the fifth election that has been monitored by our clearinghouse in Illinois.

[The service is easily launched and managed, but it nonetheless has the potential to make a big impact.  It provides not only PR value for election integrity, but also collects solid first-hand data for analysis of election malfunctions and abuses.

[A service like this ought to be set up in each State.  If you'd like to set up one for your State, feel free to use our website as a model. I'm also available to answer any questions that you may have.  --Roy]

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:       For further information, contact
                                          Roy Lipscomb,
                                          Director for Technology,
                                          Illinois Ballot Integrity Project
                                          lipscomb@ballot-integrity.org
                                          http:\\ballot-integrity.org

Note: PDF version is available at http:\\margrover.com/ibip/clearinghouse.pdf

        CITIZENS PULL BACK THE CURTAIN ON ELECTION MISHAPS

           Voters publish their reports of problems at the polls

Illinois voters and pollworkers who witness election problems in the next few weeks are invited to report the problems online at http:\\ballot-integrity.org/blog

The website, known as the "Illinois Election Problems Clearinghouse," offers a single, central location where citizens can publish first- hand reports of election problems.

"We're interested in all kinds of problems," says Roy Lipscomb, site manager.  "Major or minor, each problem is a piece of the overall puzzle."

All reports are published instantly--without editing or filtering.

The website is intended as a ready resource for voters, government officials, journalists, and researchers.

Reports from prior elections also reside on the website.

The Clearinghouse is a public service of the Illinois Ballot Integrity Project, a non-partisan citizen action group dedicated to the correction of election system deficiencies and to ensuring fair, accurate, and completely transparent elections.

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