Lawyers for Fla. congressman argue for paper ballots

[Nambe]

Associated Press

Lawyers for a Florida congressman argued Friday to keep alive a push to require the state's voting machines to create a paper ballot to go with each vote.

Attorneys for U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler, a Democrat, told members of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that a district judge wrongly threw out Wexler's lawsuit.

In dismissing the federal complaint, U.S. District Judge James Cohn said he couldn't get involved because the issue also was being considered by state courts. Also, Cohn ruled that the lawsuit would require the federal courts to become deeply involved with election procedures, which typically are left to the states.

"The judge basically mixed apples and oranges," said Wexler's attorney, Robert Peck, who said the federal and state cases argued different issues.

Attorneys for Florida Secretary of State Glenda Hood, Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Theresa LePore and Indian River Supervisor of Elections Kay Clem said the judge acted properly because Wexler's federal lawsuit was merely an effort to make the same arguments in two courts. ..

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[Parche]

1. issue

Well if it pertains to the Presidential election
then it is a National issue
We should not let one state decide the next election

[tlcandie]

2. Thanks Wexler for hanging tough!!!

:yourock:

[daleo]

3. What about U.S. Supreme Court, December 2000?

"Also, Cohn ruled that the lawsuit would require the federal courts to become deeply involved with election procedures, which typically are left to the states."

Oh, I forgot, that was a one-off special Bush favoring ruling that was never to become a precedent for anything.

[Zan_of_Texas]

4. Here's a last-ditch effort to keep hope alive -- paper. NOW

(The Supreme Court decision mustn't be cited ever again -- it's the Peninsular Exception.)


Here's the idea -- counties and states can keep their electronic whizbang machines. But, 218 Congresspeople and 51 Senators need to make this law. Right now. Paper ballots ONLY for federal elections.

They need to understand what's at stake if they do NOT do this.

So, in each precinct, there will be whatever kind of ballot the state or county has decreed but WITHOUT the federal election on it.

The federal election -- one member of the House of Representatives, one Senator (if one is up for election), and one vote for President -- this takes place ON PAPER, counted IN THE PRECINCT, results posted IN THE PRECINCT.

Because it's not scanned, no fancy printing is required. Can be done locally. Cheaply.

Many US reps are in their home districts now -- good time to go see them in their local office.


www.votersunite.org

Insist on Hand Counted Paper Ballots for Federal Offices
Federal Paper Ballot Act of 2004


(1) All votes for federal offices shall be cast on paper ballots.

(2) All votes for federal offices shall be hand counted at the polling places where the votes were cast, and the manual count shall constitute the official count of the votes.

(3) Manually-tallied precinct totals for all federal offices shall be prominently posted at the polling places before the ballots are transported to the central facility.

(4) In any jurisdiction where votes for federal office are also counted by machine, the machine totals for federal offices shall be posted at the location where the votes are machine-counted.

(5) All absentee votes for federal offices shall be counted by hand, and the totals shall be posted at the central election office.

(6) This act is effective on the date of enactment.




Insist that your legislators understand ...

... a questionable, unauditable election in November could lead to massive court challenges and tear the country apart.

... an electronic federal election will result in a national crisis in November, regardless of the election outcome.

... it is the responsibility of Congress to avert a national crisis. This legislation will avert that crisis.

... you will not cast your vote for them in November unless they support this legislation.

Insist that they introduce and support the Federal Paper Ballot Act of 2004.



Congress has the power to dictate the election method for federal elections, and that method must be hand counted paper ballots. Contact your Representative and Senators now, in August, before they resume the session in September. 1-800-839-5276


No one votes unassisted on a computer; everyone is "assisted" by anonymous programmers. ~ Mark Ortiz, former candidate for U.S. Representative, NC, 8th District

Ballots are the bright line between civility and chaos. ~ Kim Alexander

[struggle4progress]

5. kick

:kick: