From: "Noah T. Winer, MoveOn.org Political Action" <moveon-help@...>

Date: July 7, 2006 12:22:07 PM EDT

To: AliceClair Calligan <aliceclair.calligan@...>

Subject: Paper trails sweep the nation: Urge Rep. Saxton to get on board

The majority of our voting machines now keep a paper trail for every vote. Grassroots efforts are working. But your representative, Jim Saxton, still isn't fighting for a nationwide paper trail requirement. Can you write a letter to the editor of your local paper? Click Here

Dear MoveOn member,

Grassroots efforts like yours have raised the alarm about insecure, unverifiable voting machines. In 2004, only 27% of voters cast their ballots on voting machines in states requiring a paper trail. But this year, 65% of voters have a paper trail or are about to have one. Paper trails are now in the majority.¹

This progress is heartening, but we can't stop until 100% of voters have a paper trail and a mandatory random recount to ensure their votes were counted accurately.

Your representative, Jim Saxton, still isn't fighting for a paper trail for every vote. Can you write a letter to the editor of your local paper today?

Our online tool makes it easy. Click here to get started:

http://political.moveon.org/lte?campaign_id=59&id=8183-5723699-hODLuIrk2ZRBVvae6v3WBQ&t=2

You don't need to be an expert. Just write in your own words.

Another good sign: Six House Republicans recently wrote a letter asking their Republican colleagues to join them in co-sponsoring federal legislation—H.R. 550—to require a paper trail nationwide. The election integrity movement has begun to convince politicians that paperless voting machines can lead to disastrous election results for any candidate—regardless of political party.

Even more good news: Conservative CNN anchor Lou Dobbs devoted 10 nights of coverage throughout the month of June to the vulnerabilities of paperless voting machines.² Concern over the recent purchase of a major voting machine manufacturer by a company in Venezuela is alerting more conservatives to the need for a paper trail.³

Last week, a major new study of electronic voting machines from the respected Brennan Center for Justice confirmed the need for a paper trail. This study has attracted press attention from USA Today,Fox News, the Washington Post, Reuters, ABC News, and others.⁴

H.R. 550 has been stalled in a House committee for more than a year. The new chair of the committee is Rep. Vernon Ehlers from Grand Rapids, Michigan. On July 4th, local MoveOn members surprised Congressman Ehlers at two parades with signs reading "Rep. Ehlers: Protect Our Voting Machines" and "Paper Trails are Patriotic." In May, MoveOn members and others confronted Rep. Ehlers about voting machines during a town hall meeting; shortly after, he announced plans to hold hearings on the issue.

We can't stop until Rep. Ehlers allows a vote on H.R. 550, requiring paper trails for every voting machine in the nation. If Rep. Saxton co-sponsors H.R. 550, the bill will gain needed momentum. Take five minutes to write a letter to the editor of your newspaper today at:

http://political.moveon.org/lte?campaign_id=59&id=8183-5723699-hODLuIrk2ZRBVvae6v3WBQ&t=3

Thank you for all you do.

–Noah, Eli, Ben, Justin and the MoveOn.org Political Action Team
  Friday, July 7th, 2006

Sources:
1. "Voting machine update," Common Cause, July 7, 2006
http://www.commonblog.com/story/2006/7/7/104430/6157

2. "CNN's Lou Dobbs Reports on the Electronic Voting Crisis," VoteTrustUSA, June 16, 2006
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1931&id=&id=8183-5723699-hODLuIrk2ZRBVvae6v3WBQ&t=4

3. "Venezuelan Firm Could Take Over One Of This Country's Top Voting Machine Firms," CNN's Lou Dobbs Tonight, June 2, 2006
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0606/02/ldt.01.html

4. "Brennan Center Task Force Says Software Attacks Pose Real Danger To All Electronic Voting Machines," VoteTrustUSA, June 27, 2006
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1930&id=8183-5723699-hODLuIrk2ZRBVvae6v3WBQ&t=5

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