8. The Voter's right to photograph and videotape election operations as long as it doesn't directly interfere with operations (i.e. film from the side rather than in front of operations to allow enough room for work to proceed) or voter privacy. Enforce reasonable distances from operations to areas where observers observe; do not allow any officials to establish cordoned-off area that restricts the ability to film, see or hear the proceedings. This is codified in the California state elections code. However, it's not enforced and some counties ban all photography and videotaping at the door, leaving the observer with no ability to enforce the elections code correctly. Educate our judicial and enforcements systems on these rights: judges, sheriffs, county counsel, police about these rights so that they may learn to become advocates for the voters rather than enforcers of selective, and sometimes arbitrary, legal interpretation of the law.
9. The Voter's right to have full education from the elections office on how operationswork, without having to know the key words to ask. Full disclosure of chain of custody and full disclosure of any broken chain of custody or other violations of these principles.
10. The Voters right to full disclosure of the assumptions that underpin any numbers or assertions. For example, a claim that Vote By Mail is so much cheaper must include detailed "homework" calculations so they may be double checked by the voters for accuracy. Show the work.
11.The Voter's right to review the raw data files from where the tally originates. This is essential to prevent privatization of the elections. These files do not contain either software code (they shouldn't, otherwise they need certification which they do not have) nor do they violate voter privacy therefore they must be immediately disclosed for analysis.
I salute Gail Work in San Mateo County and the group of California election activists with whom she worked, a group that included Eva Waskell. As all will recognize, these principles are not honored in the USA, and the two-party tyranny uses every tool it can to disenfranchise at least 60% of the voting public -- and their candidates -- from access to the electoral process.
Now, what is to be done?
First, we need to have a national conversation about Electoral Reform. I have aggregated eleven aspects of electoral reform that many others have suggested to me in one form or another (running for President is a great way to bring stakeholders out in the open), but these need to be discussed. The Coffee Party, the original vice the hijacked Tea Party, MoveOn.org, and Facebook could all play important roles in fostering this national neighborhood conversation.
Second, we need to bring together a critical mass of past and current presidential candidates able to take the public consensus on needing an Electoral Reform Act of 2014, and turn that into a public -- very publicized -- DEMAND to Congress with a DEADLINE.
Third, since Congress is deaf, dumb, and blind when it comes to the public interest, and will almost certainly ignore this demand as they have ignored nine separate attempts to open ballot access to Independents and small parties in the past (Ron Paul submitted four of the nine bills), we need to be ready to OCCUPY their front lawns and home offices until they comply with our demand.
Fourth, and a happy day indeed, the Independents and the small parties need to get serious about putting forward candidates for every local, state, and federal election in 2016 and thereafter. Set aside all issues for now -- focus on electoral reform and integrity.
Below are the eleven specific recommendations that I have pulled together from across many conversations and sources. I offer them as a starting point for a national discussion, not as a pre-packaged solution calling for an up or down vote. The conversation is the essence of democracy, not the vote!
PHASE I (Implementation in Time for 2016)
1. Process. The election process shall reflect the eleven International Election Integrity Principles of Transparency, Chain of Custody, Observer Access, Checks & Balances, Enforcement of Election Laws, Right to Paper Ballot and Open Source Software, Right to Polls and Protection of Poll Workers; Right to Photograph & Videotape; Right to Full Education, Right to Full Disclosure of Numeric Calculations & Assumptions, and Right to Review Raw Data Files at Point of Origin. For the purposes of this Act, precinct-based Hand-Countable Paper Ballots (HCPB) shall be the national, state, and local standard until such time as a national referendum validates alternative solution, specifically the implementation of open source / mandatory paper ballot printing and tabulation systems
2. Ballot Access. Ballot access requirements shall be the same for every candidate, irrespective of party affiliation. Equal access includes access to debates. This shall also apply to initiatives and referenda, and to primary elections. No state shall be eligible to receive federal funding in any amount or form absent its implementation of this provision in time for 2012 and thereafter.
3. Voting for People. All national, state, and local elections must immediately begin, and by Election Day 2014 complete, the process of phasing out plurality voting and adopting a better voting system. An improved voting system should collect more information from voters using improved ballot design, and use that information to accomplish at least two of the following three goals: (1) to better satisfy more voters if all voters vote sincerely; (2) to satisfy more voters if all voters are strategic; (3) to encourage voter sincerity. Well-understood systems which satisfy two of those goals include Approval Voting, Condorcet voting, Instant Runoff Voting, and Range Voting. Newer systems which may satisfy all three goals include Majority Judgment, Simple Optionally-Delegated Approval (SODA) voting, and Proportional Representation (except closed-list forms). All ballot counting must be done using hand-marked precinct-based and Hand-Counted Paper Ballots (HCPB) Election Day must fall on a Sunday. Every citizen 18 or older, regardless of condition or transient status, must be able to vote easily. Early Voting must be universal. Which voting system can be selected on a national basis via the National Initiative for Democracy.
4. Voting for Issues. Voters in all jurisdictions -the nation, states, counties, localities, school boards, water districts, etc.- shall all have the right to propose and vote on legislation, including amendments to constitutions, charters, etc., in parallel with representatives. Improvements over existing initiative processes should be included, such as the ones incorporated in the National Initiative for Democracy and now in use in Oregon.
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