action page
Halt H.R. 811: Too Dangerous for Democracy
ACTION PAGE:
Warn Congress: H.R. 811 is The Patriot Act of Elections
To the Honorable

I write in opposition to the Holt Bill, H.R. 811, which promises "increased voter confidence" but actually perpetuates secret vote-counting by computers while handing centralized control of federal elections to four White House appointees.

Because it requires a computerized text conversion device in every polling place, H.R. 811 would actually require electronic voting machines, effectively ruling out noncomputerized voting methods such as handcounted paper ballots.

For the same reason H.R. 811 would also rule out noncomputerized voter assistive devices that provide better accessiblity features at far less cost, while avoiding the unacceptable risks of secret, computerized vote-counting.

This unnecessary, unproven, as-yet nonexistent text converter device that H.R. 811 requires is a gift to the E-voting industry and an under-funded federal mandate that will impose huge cost burdens on the states.

H.R. 811 provides no means to enforce election laws that are being routinely violated. This hardly inspires "increased voter confidence" in elections.

Election auditing procedures in H.R. 811--which apply to post-election results rather than to the first count--are poorly conceived and inadequate to reliably detect electronic fraud or mistabulation. This inspires alarm, not confidence.

The EAC, created as a temporary advisory commission to implement HAVA, is in fact a federal executive commission that can at any time be converted into a federal regulatory agency by the insertion of a single line of text in any act of Congress.

Regulatory powers would enable the EAC to effectively bypass Congress and create law that preempts Constitutional state sovereignty in election administration. This would allow four White House appointees to determine:

* Which voting systems are approved for use in our elections
* Who counts the votes, and how votes are counted
* How recounts are conducted and outcomes decided

This is a clear and present danger to American democracy. Do not allow it! Reject H.R. 811!

True election reform that ensures, rather than threatens democratic foundations, requires

* Public ownership of any voting system
* Citizen oversight of all electoral processes
* State sovereignty in conducting elections

H.R. 811 is opposed by the National Association of Counties, the National Conference of State Legislatures, and the National Association of Secretaries of State because elections administrators in the 50 states understand the disastrous destabilizing effects H.R. 811 will have on U.S. elections. That's why they say NO to H.R. 811 -- and why you should too.

Sincerely,

The one click form below will send your personal message to all your government representatives selected below, with the subject "Halt H.R. 811: Too Dangerous for Democracy." At the same time you can send your personal comments only as a letter to the editor of your nearest local daily newspaper if you like.

Constituent info:
 		   Email:
First: Last:
This information is required by all members of Congress and by most local newspapers for consideration for publication, but is not transmitted in messages sent to any additional "friends" emails.
Address: Apt/Ste: City:
State: Zip: Phone:
Select your recipients:
 Both my U.S. senators    My member of the U.S. House  
 millender.mcdonald@mail.house.gov, zoe.lofgren@mail.house.gov, robert.a.brady@mail.house.gov
 My nearest daily newspaper    I'd like to choose   No paper
Next add your own personal message on the subject:
All comments should be appropriately respectful and in acceptable taste. If one of your recipients is also a newspaper there is a minimum of 10 and a maximum of about 250 words. Your signature will be added automatically. Submission of this form constitutes authorization to publish your letter in your local newspaper if that option is selected above.

View last 25 messages sent
Submit the email addresses of friends to invite to write as well:
The way to have maximum impact is by sending speak out invitations to as many of your fellow constituents as possible and encourage them to make their voices heard also.
I would like to hear more about this and other issues.
Now send your message(s)
  Just click once

If you need help with the form or for a simplified version of this action page click here.
»