One of the most important issues facing our country is confidence in our voting system, and knowing that our votes count.
Rush Holt (NJ-D) had re-introduced his bill
H.R. 550. As of today,
the bill has 199 co-sponsors. It needs 218 co-sponsors (over 50% of the House) to force it out of the committee by discharge petition to the floor (thanks
AlanF).
As I was going through the list to spot some names that should be on there, I noticed a conspicuous absence -- Rep Zoe Lofgren (Dem CA - San Jose). Let's get her signed on ASAP and push the co-sponsor numbers over the top. It's especially important for her to hear from her constituents on this.
Please fax her, email her, phone her, and write her. Since it's the weekend, try letter, email, and fax. Put it on your "to do" list to call her on Monday morning. (contact info and bill summary after the fold.) I'll post reminders as well. Thanks! We can do this!
Her email is via a
web form. Her phone numbers and snail mail:
Washington, D.C. Office
102 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-3072
Fax: (202) 225-3336
San Jose District Office
635 N. First Street, Suite B
San Jose, CA 95112
Phone: (408) 271-8700
Fax: (408) 271-8713
[Summary of H.R. 550]:
2/2/2005--Introduced.
Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2005 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 with respect to: (1) voter verification and mandatory paper record audit capacity; and (2) accessibility and voter verification of results for individuals with disabilities.
Requires the Election Assistance Commission to study, test, and develop best practices to enhance the accessibility of voter-verification mechanisms for individuals with disabilities and for voters whose primary language is not English, including best practices for the mechanisms themselves and the process through which the mechanisms are used.
Outlines additional voting system requirements.
Requires laboratories to meet standards prohibiting conflicts of interest as a condition of accreditation for the testing of voting system hardware and software.
Provides for the filing of complaints by aggrieved persons with the Attorney General. Extends the authorization of Election Assistance Commission permanently.
Makes available additional funding to enable States to meet the costs of the requirements imposed by this Act.
Directs the Election Assistance Commission to conduct random, unannounced, hand counts of the voter-verified records for each Federal general election in at least two percent of the precincts in each State.
Requires Federal certification of the technological security of voter registration lists.