BBV: HR2239 gains 2 more sponsors. Keep calling and writing please!

[GregD]

Today these appeared as cosponsors to HR2239. We now have 127 cosponsors for this bill. We need to work harder to get some more Republican cosponsors.

Rep. Steve Israel,
Rep. Ron Kind,

We originally had Ron Kind as supporting, now he has made a commitment.

Cosponsors for Senate bills are still unchanged:
Graham (S. 1980): 2 cosponsors
Clinton (S. 1986): 1 cosponsor
Boxer (S. 2045): none




NOW IS THE TIME TO ENSURE VERIFIABLE ELECTIONS IN 2004

***Please pass this on to everyone you know***

---------------------------------------------------------
Please DONATE to help pay our new PR firm, which will be publicizing your efforts to pass these bills:
https://www.verifiedvoting.org/Donate /
---------------------------------------------------------

Hundreds of voters were disenfranchised by the use of paperless electronic voting machines on Super Tuesday, March 2. They didn't get to vote for a presidential candidate. We cannot allow this to happen again in November!

Our votes must count!

Our best, and possibly only, opportunity to require a voter-verifiable paper trail everywhere in the U.S. for the November 2004 election is "The Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2003." The House version (H.R.
2239) was introduced in May by Rep. Rush Holt. The Senate version (S. 1980) was introduced in December by Senator Bob Graham.

VerifiedVoting.org is in the midst of a campaign to contact every Senator as many times as possible to let them know how much we care about passing this bill. We have heard that the House bill may not move until Congress becomes clear on which of the three Senate voting bills (Clinton's S.1986, Boxer's S.2045, or Graham's S.1980) is gaining the most support. It is important that GRAHAM's bill emerge as the obvious choice, or it is unlikely that we will have a paper trail by this election. The other two WILL NOT provide what we need for a verifiable election before November 2004.

ACTION:
1) Call or fax your Senators EVERY DAY until they co-sponsor GRAHAM'S bill.
Guidelines, a toll free phone number, a sample letter, and information resources are here: http://www.verifiedvoting.org/resources/hr2239_volunteers/s1980_effort...

To find your Senator's name and current position (if any) on the bill, go to our home page, www.verifiedvoting.org, and select your state in the left nav bar.

2) Report the results of your call to [email protected] .

3) In order to publicize this issue and gain support from off-line citizens, please print H.R.2239/S.1980 petitions. Take them to meetings and wherever else you go, and get them filled with signatures. Then mail them to the address on the petitions. Here are the petitions:
http://www.verifiedvoting.org/resources/documents/Petition_to_Support_...

For more information on the voting issue or the bills, go to http://www.verifiedvoting.org .

THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW!!

WE MUST GET THESE BILLS PASSED IN MARCH.

THERE ARE ONLY 6 FULL DAYS IN APRIL FOR WHICH CONGRESS HAS SCHEDULED VOTES.

[Eric J in MN]

1. For anyone who wants more help finding your representatives names

You can find the names and phone numbers of your representatives using:
www.vote-smart.org

sample phone words:
Hello, can I speak to someone about a Voting Rights Bill?

Please give a message to Congressman ____ to please co-sponsor HR.2339, The Voter Confidence Act, to improve the accuracy of our elections.

or

Please give a message to Senator ____ to please co-sponsor S.1980, The Voter Confidence Act, to improve the accuracy of our elections.

[sybylla]

2. Glad to see my rep, Ron Kind, on the list.

He told me in January he supported it but avoided responding to the co-sponsor plea from me. I will be e-mailing a big thank-you to his office today.

[RedEagle]

3. There are many facets to this battle

Legislation is one of them.

Each supports the other.

Threat of legislation can be a big factor.

Threat of litigation is an immediate factor.

Threat of boycotting the touch screens is an immediate factor.

It's never one front, so let's support them all.

(My highest hope, is that by the time this legislation hits the floor, there will be a couple amendments putting a lot more 'bite' into it. What's happening now with media exposure and litigation can encourage that kind of bill 'enhancement.' There are many eggs in the basket, let's use them all)

[alfredo]

4. Here is the website for Rep Ben Chandler (D) Ky

http://www.house.gov/chandler/

I just sent him a letter urging him to co sponsor the bill. He is new, just got his seat last month. Good guy.

[Zookeeper]

5. Thanks for the information...

-kick- :kick: