What can we do to combat these three major barriers and the other ploys or mishaps that threaten democracy to the extent that the people’s choice is forced to concede, as has occurred in 2000 and 2004?
What can we do? In the expected case of more voters showing up than a precinct can accommodate, emergency paper ballots should be on hand. Where this is disputed, and in the event of other barriers to voting, victims can call 1-866-ourvote to locate the nearest trained volunteer who either helps out or refers the frustrated voter to volunteer attorneys who will do what they can. In 2006, 25 thousand calls were fielded. There are now 750 call centers nationwide. How to publicize this resource? One hundred fifty election protection partners have collaborated to get the news out at the state, local, and national level. Media outlets will also be provided this information and, it is hoped, disperse it effectively.
Another option to combat a challenge situation is to contact the local judge of elections or fill out a provisional ballot and hope for the best.
:Local voters must be aware of the challenged events. Each precinct should have an adequate supply of emergency paper ballots. Because so many voting facilities will not be able to accommodate the record (in recent years) turnouts expected, there should be droves of emergency ballots. I certainly expect a tidal wave in this area. I expect a close election because of unethical tampering, masking a record-breaking Democratic sweep, that will be disputed as long as McCain can protract the process—far longer than did the statesmanly Al Gore.
The long-term solution, according to a task force led by former presidents Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford, to this worst of all systems among the “developed “world’s democracies, is universal voter registration. This decision would immediately add 50 million voters to the lists. Fewer last-minute challenges would occur or be possible.
The good news, delivered actually before the bad news, is that the most recent state primaries occurred without major incidents; the states have made progress in knowing how to use electronic voting machines; and the vote count surged in the last primaries—in twelve states the rolls added more than 12 million new voters.
List data were used among Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina in an attempt to match same names across state lines and then eliminate such suspect voters. Bob Smith in one state will be eliminated because there is a Bob Smith registered in the neighboring state.
The information that follows was gleaned from the many audience questions answered.
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