OpEdNews.Com

Have you heard the latest talking point used to promote invisible ballots? "Those critics of electronic voting shouldn't talk about concerns, because it will cause people not to vote."

Wrong. Hundreds of thousands of people are now becoming involved, and that's what democracy is all about!

And have you heard this: "But we can't do anything to solve this before the fall elections."

You know, that's almost unAmerican. We just have to roll up our sleeves and make it happen.

I hear this every day: "What can I do to help?"

Here's what you can do: Volunteer for the 2004 elections Clean Voting Crew and make your nomination for a trouble spot county that belongs on the "Top 10 Clean-Up" list, warranting special attention. We need crew members all over America.

Two things to do right now:

1. E-mail Bevharrismail@aol.com  with "Volunteering!" in the subject line to join the Clean Voting Crew. We need more than 2,000 Crew members all lined up, practiced, and ready to go for fall, and this means getting started NOW.

1,000 Crew members will pop up in local elections all over the place.

We'd like you to be one of them. 1,000 more will be recruited in designated "Clean-Up" counties. Join the Crew! No one needs to know who you are, or where you are, except the Crew Coordinators.

What does the Clean Voting Crew do? You'll report what you see, ask questions, and relay information quickly to the media and for litigators.

We especially want Crew volunteers willing to go undercover inside the election process itself — we're already getting Crew volunteers who are election judges and election workers. People with access to the elections process include campaign managers, poll workers, and county employees.

Whether or not you have access to elections, do volunteer. If you want voting to make a difference, you've got to take actions to safeguard your own vote — real democracy.

If you can put together a little Clean Voting pod, that's even better.

Recruit a few friends and family members and have some real fun ensuring the survival of democracy.

2. Please go to http://www.blackboxvoting.org to submit your nomination for a county you think may deserve extra scrutiny, for a "Top 10 Clean Up Crew Site" award, because in each of the Top 10 Clean-Up Counties, we'll be assigning someone to EVERY SINGLE polling place in September and November — about 100 Clean-Up Crew members per Clean-UpCounty.

We'll have a contest to select the Top Ten Clean-Up Counties. So far, the nominees are: Riverside County, CA. Comal County, TX. San Diego County, CA. Fulton County, GA, El Paso County, CO. Nominate away.

Members of the Clean Up Crew will not be doing anything like exit polling. Nope, the Clean Up Crew will act as on-the-spot first-person reporters, will be equipped with a list of problems to watch for, and will be set up with a network to report problems instantly to media and to litigators.

SURPRISE: This is actually a preventive measure

We're developing a list of recommended Clean Voting procedures, which includes, of course, a Voter Verified Paper Ballot, but also simple bookkeeping procedures like posting totals at polling places and comparing them with county tabulator results.

Counties that implement our recommended list of security procedures ahead of time can get themselves removed from the Clean Up list, if they are nominated for it, but will still have a few Clean Voting Crew members watching to make sure they implement better election integrity procedures.

NOTICE FOR COUNTY REGISTRARS: Those who refuse to comply with recommended Clean Voting procedures can expect media and documentary film producers to pop up everywhere, documenting every aspect of the voting system that does not inspire confidence. Complaints will be encouraged, and counties who don't follow Clean Voting procedures will become exhibits in post-election litigation, which is being organized now.

Florida all over again — but nationwide, this time?

In the March 2 election, our Clean Voting Crew spotted significant problems in five different places. This was a tiny test project, and we only had 20 people involved. Let's get good, solid, trustworthy, transparent, secure, sound accounting back into the voting system ahead of time, because if we don't, with over 2,000 on-the-spot Clean Voting Crew members in November, we'll end up with an undesirable fiasco, throwing election results into question.

CITIZENS: It's up to us.

ELECTION OFFICIALS: Let's solve this now.

INVISIBLE BALLOT VENDORS: Quit blocking the road.

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Need ammunition to convince your local officials? Black Box Voting book: It's on 24-hour availability at Amazon at this address: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/1890916900