CVV Meeting Follow-up, Next Meeting: Nov 12th

["joe pezzillo" <jpezzillo@xxxxxxxxx>]

11/4/03

"Citizens for Verifiable Voting" Meeting Follow-Up

Thanks again to everyone for attending the citizen's meeting last night.

For those on the list who missed it, the brief summary is that we spent 
a little time on review and details of the laws and situation, more 
than the allotted time on creating and prioritizing a list of citizen's 
concerns (see below), drafted a "first reading" of a group statement 
(to be posted to the BCV mailing list), and formed sub-groups tasked 
with specific actions, like meeting with the County Commissioners and 
getting word to the press. Not bad for 5 hours work if you ask me!

For those new to the list, and as a reminder to everyone, be sure to 
subscribe to the Boulder Computer Voting e-mail list, as this is the 
primary vehicle for discussion and continuing work on this issue. To do 
so, send an e-mail to bcv-subscribe@xxxxxxxxxxx and you will receive a 
response that requires a reply to verify your participation. It's 
easier than it sounds and you'll be connected to the entire group 
within minutes.

THE NEXT MEETING is scheduled for Wednesday November 12th, 7pm, 
location TBA ASAP. These are open citizen's meetings so please feel 
free to bring more concerned participants! The Media team will be 
responsible for notifying the press. I spoke with Sam at KGNU and there 
is a chance for us to be on the radio before next Wednesday, and they 
will also probably make announcements.

BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING, the "sub groups" that were created at last 
night's meeting need to meet, at least by e-mail, and begin to take 
action. The subgroups are focused on: Meeting with the Commissioners, 
Meeting with County Election Officials, and Media & Outreach. If you 
would like to participate in one of these groups, please feel free to 
let me know, and all such group activities should be promoted via the 
bcv mailing list, so please look for information and take part there.

Additional information and resources on the website, and you can 
contribute your own, at http://bcv.booyaka.com.

Also, remember that this is a truly initiative based action that has 
arisen from citizen concerns, and insofar as we are not even any kind 
of "official" group, you should take your own actions as you deem 
appropriate. Don't feel like you have to be on a committee or get 
approval to write a letter to the editor or contact your 
representatives, those are your rights as individual citizens!

Presumably, many of these letters will center around the same primary 
concerns that we identified at the meeting last night, ranked starting 
with most important:

	Everyone is for fair elections that cannot be stolen, manipulated or 
tampered with by any means.
	Citizens want a single paper ballot system, although paper ballots may 
be generated by an electronic device for ADA compliance.
	Citizens are concerned more about the accuracy of the vote count than 
the speed with which it is obtained.
	Citizens want no proprietary or secret software used in the voting 
process, preferring an approach based on open software with public 
verification.
	Citizens are concerned that standards that are mandated by law have 
not yet been established, yet expensive systems are being purchased 
now.
	There is a realization that some election law reform may be necessary, 
such that citizens are guaranteed of useful and audited paper ballot 
recounts.

I am paraphrasing these from my notes, please feel free to chime in on 
the BCV e-mail list with your corrections or amplifications on these 
points.

Look for the "first reading" draft statement to address these issues 
with better language, again, on the BCV mailing list. Subscribe by 
sending an e-mail to bcv-subscribe@xxxxxxxxxxx then participate by 
sending messages to bcv@xxxxxxxxxxx

Thanks again everyone, together (and I think only together) we are 
going to be able to change this situation to the benefit of all 
citizens.

See you at the next meeting!

Joe Pezzillo
Boulder resident for 15+ years
jpezzillo@xxxxxxxxx


PS - Don't forget to MAKE SURE to get your ballot to the county 
building on 33rd street (or one of their drop locations in the county) 
by 7PM tonight if you haven't already!!!