The Holt bill simply does not provide a meaningful audit in an area where there
will be a high probability of a sophisticated theft attempt, and computer
scientists are not qualified to determine what a meaningful audit would be.
If one uses the premise that computerized voting systems should "at least, be no
worse than hand counted paper ballots" in terms of the citizenry's ability to
oversee the count, the Holt bill fails. It makes computerized voting
significantly worse than hand counts because citizens still will not be able to
oversee the count.
3) We can have opinions that differ. Having a different opinion doesn't mean
that one is "deluded" or spreading misinformation. A discussion of the issues
will be welcomed, and in fact you can do that right at our site or in e-mail.
I believe it will help the dialog immensely when scientists recognize that
citizens of many backgrounds have insights of value to contribute, and that in
a real democracy, a computer scientist will be on exactly equal footing with a
history teacher, an accountant, a journalist, a carpenter and the UPS delivery
man.
Let's not underestimate the innate common sense and intellect of the citizenry
that owns our elections. None of us plan to turn decisionmaking over to either
political appointees or computer scientists any time soon, but you are welcome
to join us at the table as we all make mutually agreed upon decisions.
Bev Harris, Black Box Voting
***
From MoveOn newsletter:
Dear MoveOn member,
Last week, scores of MoveOn members traveled thousands of miles to Washington, D.C., to urge Congress to guarantee every voting machine will keep paper records. With their help, we're closer than ever to passing crucial federal legislation. Now, our friends at Common Cause are trying to carry that momentum forward with a great new plan.
Touch-screen voting machines rely on computers to count votes, but there's no hard copy backup in case of a crash and no way to detect tampering. From North Carolina to Ohio to Texas, votes have been lost or miscounted.1
As we work to get progressives out to vote, we also need to make sure those votes are counted accurately. For over two years, MoveOn members have been fighting for a paper record of every vote. We've won this fight in more than 25 states, and MoveOn members have pressed for H.R. 550""the gold standard for federal paper record bills""at every key moment. Together, we have made thousands of phone calls and hundreds of in-person visits to our representatives in Congress. (You can check out a list of our accomplishments below.)
As many voting experts have observed, passing H.R. 550 won't solve all our voting woes immediately. But the bill's mandatory audit of voter-verified paper records is the essential first step to expose glitches and fraud in our election system.2 H.R. 550 will make possible even more progress on election integrity.
Common Cause has crafted a massive new push for a federal law requiring a paper record of every vote. The plan targets key members of Congress who are ignoring insecure voting machines. As we approach the November election, they'll raise the profile of this issue with newspaper editorials and media coverage of new polling data showing the scope of public concern.
The plan will also get state election officials to pressure Congress directly to require paper records. And Common Cause will host nationwide house parties featuring a powerful new documentary on voting machines. MoveOn members will be involved every step of the way, starting by funding this exciting new plan.
Last week, Common Cause and other leading election integrity groups organized meetings in Washington, D.C., for citizens to urge Congress to pass H.R. 550. We invited MoveOn members who have signed our election integrity petitions, and 75 made the trip at their own expense. Here are a few reports from MoveOn members:
The light bulb in [the Congressional aide's] eyes went on when I mentioned that my fellow citizens couldn't understand why any one of their representatives would not co-sponsor this bill. Weren't they for insuring democratic elections? If citizens don't think that their vote counts, they won't vote.
-Lynne C., Thurmont, Maryland
A delegation of concerned citizens speaking directly to a Congressperson or their representative armed with specific "talking points" that anticipated and addressed their questions and concerns was very effective.
-Paul M., Bristow, Virginia
[The Congressional aide] promised that by the end of the day he would talk to the Congressman who would most likely sign on as a cosponsor. He kept his promise and by 6:00 we had another cosponsor!
-Carolyn F., Cambridge, Massachusetts
will be a high probability of a sophisticated theft attempt, and computer
scientists are not qualified to determine what a meaningful audit would be.
If one uses the premise that computerized voting systems should "at least, be no
worse than hand counted paper ballots" in terms of the citizenry's ability to
oversee the count, the Holt bill fails. It makes computerized voting
significantly worse than hand counts because citizens still will not be able to
oversee the count.
3) We can have opinions that differ. Having a different opinion doesn't mean
that one is "deluded" or spreading misinformation. A discussion of the issues
will be welcomed, and in fact you can do that right at our site or in e-mail.
I believe it will help the dialog immensely when scientists recognize that
citizens of many backgrounds have insights of value to contribute, and that in
a real democracy, a computer scientist will be on exactly equal footing with a
history teacher, an accountant, a journalist, a carpenter and the UPS delivery
man.
that owns our elections. None of us plan to turn decisionmaking over to either
political appointees or computer scientists any time soon, but you are welcome
to join us at the table as we all make mutually agreed upon decisions.
Bev Harris, Black Box Voting
***
From MoveOn newsletter:
Dear MoveOn member,
Last week, scores of MoveOn members traveled thousands of miles to Washington, D.C., to urge Congress to guarantee every voting machine will keep paper records. With their help, we're closer than ever to passing crucial federal legislation. Now, our friends at Common Cause are trying to carry that momentum forward with a great new plan.
Touch-screen voting machines rely on computers to count votes, but there's no hard copy backup in case of a crash and no way to detect tampering. From North Carolina to Ohio to Texas, votes have been lost or miscounted.1
As we work to get progressives out to vote, we also need to make sure those votes are counted accurately. For over two years, MoveOn members have been fighting for a paper record of every vote. We've won this fight in more than 25 states, and MoveOn members have pressed for H.R. 550""the gold standard for federal paper record bills""at every key moment. Together, we have made thousands of phone calls and hundreds of in-person visits to our representatives in Congress. (You can check out a list of our accomplishments below.)
As many voting experts have observed, passing H.R. 550 won't solve all our voting woes immediately. But the bill's mandatory audit of voter-verified paper records is the essential first step to expose glitches and fraud in our election system.2 H.R. 550 will make possible even more progress on election integrity.
Common Cause has crafted a massive new push for a federal law requiring a paper record of every vote. The plan targets key members of Congress who are ignoring insecure voting machines. As we approach the November election, they'll raise the profile of this issue with newspaper editorials and media coverage of new polling data showing the scope of public concern.
The plan will also get state election officials to pressure Congress directly to require paper records. And Common Cause will host nationwide house parties featuring a powerful new documentary on voting machines. MoveOn members will be involved every step of the way, starting by funding this exciting new plan.
Last week, Common Cause and other leading election integrity groups organized meetings in Washington, D.C., for citizens to urge Congress to pass H.R. 550. We invited MoveOn members who have signed our election integrity petitions, and 75 made the trip at their own expense. Here are a few reports from MoveOn members:
The light bulb in [the Congressional aide's] eyes went on when I mentioned that my fellow citizens couldn't understand why any one of their representatives would not co-sponsor this bill. Weren't they for insuring democratic elections? If citizens don't think that their vote counts, they won't vote.
-Lynne C., Thurmont, Maryland
A delegation of concerned citizens speaking directly to a Congressperson or their representative armed with specific "talking points" that anticipated and addressed their questions and concerns was very effective.
-Paul M., Bristow, Virginia
[The Congressional aide] promised that by the end of the day he would talk to the Congressman who would most likely sign on as a cosponsor. He kept his promise and by 6:00 we had another cosponsor!
-Carolyn F., Cambridge, Massachusetts
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