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The most basic of democratic principles is that all eligible votes are counted.  Yet the past three elections have sapped voters' confidence in electronic voting machines and the integrity of our voting process.
 
Common Cause has launched GetItStraightBy2008.org because we know that the time to push for election reform is now. 

 

Our most urgent priority is passing a federal law requiring a voter-verified paper record.  

 

Common Cause helped recruit more than 200 House sponsors from both parties for "The Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act," introduced by Representative Rush Holt (D-NJ), which would require paper records and mandatory audits of voting machines by 2008. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), the chair of the Senate Rules Committee, has held a hearing on this issue and has offered similar legislation, although her bill, S 1487. calls for a 2010 deadline.  We believe that if Congress acts promptly, the change can be made by November 2008, in time for the national presidential election.

 

To learn more about voter verified paper records and voting machine problems, read our 2006 publication, Malfunction and Malfeasance: A Report on the Electronic Voting Machine Debacle, as well as our report on data collected from voters during the 2006 elections to find out why paper records are such an important issue.

 

We are also working to:

 

• Remove barriers that keep eligible voters from exercising their right to vote.
  Common Cause has successfully blocked the passage of more restrictive voting laws in Colorado, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, and Ohio. Common Cause joined with a coalition of civil rights groups to block the House voter ID bill from being passed by the Senate. Common Cause also supports laws like Election Day registration that affirmatively encourage voter participation.
  
  
• Enact legislation outlawing attempts to deceive and/or harass voters.
  Common Cause supports The Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Act, introduced in the 110th Congress by Senators Barack Obama (D-IL) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY). The legislation would make it illegal for anyone to interfere with our right to vote by deceiving us. Penalties for violating this law would include fines of up to $100,000 and/or up to five years in jail.
  
  
• End unfair election administration.
  Common Cause has drafted a model bill that requires all elections officials to abide by a code of ethics and to make all election management decisions in an open and transparent manner with input from citizens. Common Cause state offices in Florida, California, Ohio, New York, Colorado, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Georgia are working to introduce this bill in 2007.
  
  
• Reform the way we redraw the lines of congressional districts.
  Common Cause will continue to push to have independent commissions, rather than politicians, draw the boundaries of congressional districts. In California, Florida, and Massachusetts, Common Cause efforts raised the visibility of redistricting reform and engaged and educated thousands of activists.

 

Our first goal is a law requiring paper records that voters can see and correct before their electronic ballots are cast and audits of voting machines.  Take action now!

 

 

 

Learn more about Voter Verified Paper Trails and voting machine problems

Voting machine FAQ

What else is Common Cause doing about election reform? 

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