CFVI Update: Sunday, October 10, 2004
Issue: 15
Click on any highlighted link below for more information.
CFVI is seeking donations for the purpose of getting our message out through the media. You can send a check to us care of RMPJC and mail it to:
RMPJC
P.O. Box 1156
Boulder, CO 80306
Be sure to make the check payable to RMPJC and note in the memo space on your check that this is for Coloradoans for Voting Integrity (CFVI)
Also, You May Donate Online
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HELP MAKE OUR VOTES COUNT!
VOLUNTEER WITH CFVI
CFVI is part of a national campaign to try to ensure that our votes count.
Voters in Denver, Jefferson, Arapahoe and El Paso Counties
Vote with absentee ballots!
Hand-carry the ballots on Election Day.
These counties have touch screen computer voting ballot. If you vote on the computer, there is no paper ballot. Absentee ballots provide a paper ballot, but they optically scanned during tabulation, so the accuracy of this count is questionable. Having a paper ballot is important though.
We need people during the election to:
Staff a hotline? Report election problems. This will go into a national database.
Poll Watch? Represent your favorite candidate or ballot issue by watching voting at the precincts. Help verified voting by comparing numbers of people voting with actual tabulations. At the end of the day, we will be comparing counts.
? Witness absentee vote counting, and central tabulations.
This is crucial to the integrity of an election.
Election Judge-you are employed by the county to work the elections. Call your county clerk to sign up. The counties are short staffed, and are hiring for pre-election work as well. Please let us know if you do this.
These efforts will help us gather the data we need to continue mounting our case for verified voting. If you have been thinking about taking election day off to help get out the vote, you could do that and help be a poll monitor as well.
Training will be provided. If you would like to become involved please call Carolyn Bninski at 303-444-6981.
CFVI will operate another Voting Problem Hotline on Nov 2. We have office space in Lakewood (Wadsworth and Alameda) and 10 dedicated phone lines. Tracy Abell can lead this effort but needs a helper to oversee the hotline for at least six hours on Nov 2, and if able, help recruit operators. We need 40 hotline operators to each work a three-hour shift. If you're not a poll watcher or election judge, please consider helping out. Operators will document problems related to electronic voting machines, and CFVI may need this documentation in case of legal challenges. Please respond by e-mailing us at info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Message from the Director
At the CFVI meeting this week we identified a new tactic we wish to employ: to target those Colorado party leaders in counties using DRE machines to educate them on the dangers and to provide TWO recommendations to party leaders, as well as to ask for their immediate help in implementing these two recommendations through publicity and recruitment efforts on our behalf to their respective party organizations.
We would like to ask you to approach BOTH the Republican and Democratic Party Chairs for your respective county, to set up an appointment to meet with them and to communicate the following (if you wish, you may want to approach the Green, Libertarian or other parties, but we hope to reach the majority parties in particular):
1. Communicate the issue about the security risks to our election by use of the voting machine in your county. Deliver a copy of the documents from CFVI?s website (found at this link: Downloads: Volunteer Materials to that party official and review with them the myriad ways the election can be stolen by use of this faulty technology and the faulty security methods associated with use of these machines (all covered in this attached document). Explain the need to focus especially upon the processing of absentee ballots, and to print out and refer them to a copy of Al's article (also attached). Describe CFVI's Election Day hotline and ask the party chair if they are willing to publicize this hotline to members of their party in the county for incident reporting.
2. Explain our strategy of recommending that people vote by absentee ballots hand-delivered on Election Day or the day before, and by provisional ballots if they miss the Absentee ballot deadline, but by all means to avoid use of the machines. Explain the rationale behind this by bringing with you copies of the handouts (Downloads: Volunteer Materials).
3. Specifically ask these party leaders for their commitment to help us obtain poll watchers for central counting (including processing of absentee ballots), early voting and precinct voting, referring all such poll watchers to share their reports with us at our hotline. We especially need notaries in each county to be available to notarize any HAVA complaints to be filed that day, in order to facilitate the proper submission of complaints of any wrongdoing for official investigation after the election. Explain that we are likely to be embroiled in a court case after the election and will need their active assistance in fact gathering in order to be effective in this effort, regardless of party affiliation. Try to obtain their commitment to share their communication with us (provide Tracy's name for hotline operator volunteers) so we know that they will honor their pledge to convey our appeal for poll watchers in these 3 types of poll watching. If any funds exist from any of these county party organizations to help publicize these efforts, please ask for financial support as well. The deadline to apply for absentee ballots for the election is October 26 if being mailed back, Oct 29th if being hand delivered to a drop off point. We need help publicizing both this strategy and the need for poll watchers and use of the hotline, hence the need for financial support.
Please, also consider helping coordinate the poll watching efforts. We need a committee chair to coordinate county coverage and facilitate reporting to the hotline. Tracy cannot do this alone. We need a team of at least 3 people to work together to coordinate this effort. I will help on election day but cannot commit too much time prior to that day, due to full-time work commitments.
Laurie has agreed to approach Denver; I need commitments from Chuck for El Paso, Doug for Arapahoe, and Pete for Jeffco. If there are candidates you know who could be affected by use of these machines in your counties, it may also be advisable to approach them first to ask them to accompany you to the respective party chairman for that county, so they take you seriously.
If anyone knows of volunteers we could recruit to approach the following counties that use DRE's for early voting, please reply to me:
Mesa, Saguache, Weld, Broomfield
We are hoping we can count on you to help in alerting and educating the folks who may be able to raise the greatest stink and who will alert their affected party members to protect their votes.
Thank you for all you are doing.
Bob McGrath
Director, CFVI
At the CFVI meeting this week we identified a new tactic we wish to employ: to target those Colorado party leaders in counties using DRE machines to educate them on the dangers and to provide TWO recommendations to party leaders, as well as to ask for their immediate help in implementing these two recommendations through publicity and recruitment efforts on our behalf to their respective party organizations.
We would like to ask you to approach BOTH the Republican and Democratic Party Chairs for your respective county, to set up an appointment to meet with them and to communicate the following (if you wish, you may want to approach the Green, Libertarian or other parties, but we hope to reach the majority parties in particular):
1. Communicate the issue about the security risks to our election by use of the voting machine in your county. Deliver a copy of the documents from CFVI?s website (found at this link: Downloads: Volunteer Materials to that party official and review with them the myriad ways the election can be stolen by use of this faulty technology and the faulty security methods associated with use of these machines (all covered in this attached document). Explain the need to focus especially upon the processing of absentee ballots, and to print out and refer them to a copy of Al's article (also attached). Describe CFVI's Election Day hotline and ask the party chair if they are willing to publicize this hotline to members of their party in the county for incident reporting.
2. Explain our strategy of recommending that people vote by absentee ballots hand-delivered on Election Day or the day before, and by provisional ballots if they miss the Absentee ballot deadline, but by all means to avoid use of the machines. Explain the rationale behind this by bringing with you copies of the handouts (Downloads: Volunteer Materials).
3. Specifically ask these party leaders for their commitment to help us obtain poll watchers for central counting (including processing of absentee ballots), early voting and precinct voting, referring all such poll watchers to share their reports with us at our hotline. We especially need notaries in each county to be available to notarize any HAVA complaints to be filed that day, in order to facilitate the proper submission of complaints of any wrongdoing for official investigation after the election. Explain that we are likely to be embroiled in a court case after the election and will need their active assistance in fact gathering in order to be effective in this effort, regardless of party affiliation. Try to obtain their commitment to share their communication with us (provide Tracy's name for hotline operator volunteers) so we know that they will honor their pledge to convey our appeal for poll watchers in these 3 types of poll watching. If any funds exist from any of these county party organizations to help publicize these efforts, please ask for financial support as well. The deadline to apply for absentee ballots for the election is October 26 if being mailed back, Oct 29th if being hand delivered to a drop off point. We need help publicizing both this strategy and the need for poll watchers and use of the hotline, hence the need for financial support.
Please, also consider helping coordinate the poll watching efforts. We need a committee chair to coordinate county coverage and facilitate reporting to the hotline. Tracy cannot do this alone. We need a team of at least 3 people to work together to coordinate this effort. I will help on election day but cannot commit too much time prior to that day, due to full-time work commitments.
Laurie has agreed to approach Denver; I need commitments from Chuck for El Paso, Doug for Arapahoe, and Pete for Jeffco. If there are candidates you know who could be affected by use of these machines in your counties, it may also be advisable to approach them first to ask them to accompany you to the respective party chairman for that county, so they take you seriously.
If anyone knows of volunteers we could recruit to approach the following counties that use DRE's for early voting, please reply to me:
Mesa, Saguache, Weld, Broomfield
We are hoping we can count on you to help in alerting and educating the folks who may be able to raise the greatest stink and who will alert their affected party members to protect their votes.
Thank you for all you are doing.
Bob McGrath
Director, CFVI
PLEASE SHARE THIS INFO WITH OTHER VOTERS
Coloradoans for Voting Integrity (CFVI) is a statewide, non-partisan group of citizens working for verifiable and trustworthy elections. We have advocated for voter-verified paper ballots via legislation, citizen involvement, and media alerts, but election officials ignored our concerns; electronic voting devices will be used throughout Colorado on November 2. These electronic machines cannot verify that our votes are cast or counted as intended.
CFVI now recommends that people vote with absentee ballots. Further, CFVI recommends that voters hand-deliver absentee ballots to county election offices on Nov 2. Why? Because once an absentee ballot is cast, election officials can open and count those ballots, and then post the total counts as well as political affilation in a public location. This enables ?get out the vote? campaigns to counter any lead.
CFVI notes that absentee ballots are not a perfect solution but they do allow people to verify that their votes are cast as intended, in addition to providing a paper trail. The last day to apply for an absentee ballot is October 26 (if mailed) and October 29 (if picked up).
Coloradoans for Voting Integrity (CFVI) is a statewide, non-partisan group of citizens working for verifiable and trustworthy elections. We have advocated for voter-verified paper ballots via legislation, citizen involvement, and media alerts, but election officials ignored our concerns; electronic voting devices will be used throughout Colorado on November 2. These electronic machines cannot verify that our votes are cast or counted as intended.
CFVI now recommends that people vote with absentee ballots. Further, CFVI recommends that voters hand-deliver absentee ballots to county election offices on Nov 2. Why? Because once an absentee ballot is cast, election officials can open and count those ballots, and then post the total counts as well as political affilation in a public location. This enables ?get out the vote? campaigns to counter any lead.
CFVI notes that absentee ballots are not a perfect solution but they do allow people to verify that their votes are cast as intended, in addition to providing a paper trail. The last day to apply for an absentee ballot is October 26 (if mailed) and October 29 (if picked up).
Events:
Event Date: Oct 12, 2004
Meetings - CFVI Meeting:
We will be meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday night at the Maes Building on Colfax & Xavier Streets in Lakewood, to discuss developing an intensive campaign aimed at PR, increasing media coverage and focusing political and people-powered pressure upon the Secretary of State's Office.
Find out more.
Event Date: Oct 12, 2004
Meetings - e-Voting Discussion:
Tuesday, October 12, 2004
4:30 pm, networking, refreshments
5:00 p.m., presentation,
QA book giveaway,
free Better Software magazines
----------------------------
Panel discussion:
Electronic Voting Machines
Panelists:
SysTest Labs: Carolyn Coggins, Gail Audette
Boulder County: Paul Danish, Joe Pezzillo
SQUAD: Jon Hagar, Cathy Kiser
Qwest Auditorium
1005 17th Street
Downtown Denver, CO
The Qwest Auditorium is located in the Qwest Building at the Corner of 17th
and Curtis)
(For more information on parking & directions go to the SQuAD website
Find out more.
Event Date: Oct 19, 2004
Meetings - CFVI Meeting:
We will be meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday night at the Maes Building on Colfax & Xavier Streets in Lakewood, to discuss developing an intensive campaign aimed at PR, increasing media coverage and focusing political and people-powered pressure upon the Secretary of State's Office.
Find out more.
Event Date: Oct 26, 2004
Meetings - CFVI Meeting:
We will be meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday night at the Maes Building on Colfax & Xavier Streets in Lakewood, to discuss developing an intensive campaign aimed at PR, increasing media coverage and focusing political and people-powered pressure upon the Secretary of State's Office.
Find out more.
Event Date: Nov 02, 2004
Other - US Election:
Election Day!
Find out more.
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Become An Election Protection Volunteer!
In the last presidential election, millions of votes were never counted. Voters in minority communities were disproportionately disenfranchised through illegal disqualification, intimidation, and faulty voting machines. The nonpartisan Election Protection coalition needs you to stand up and defend voting rights November 2!
Electronic Frontier Foundation
EFF E-Voting The 2004 presidential election might not be flawed like the last one was; it might be even worse. Communities across America are purchasing electronic voting (e-voting) machines, but the technology has serious security problems that aren't being addressed. Most of the machines use "black box" software that hasn't been publicly reviewed for security. Almost none provide voter-verifiable paper ballots to detect fraud. A recent analysis by several academic researchers outlines the many and varied ways that anyone from a technically proficient insider to an average voter could disrupt an e-voting system to defraud an election. The response of some of the companies that make e-voting machines has been even more upsetting. Instead of embracing close technical review and public interest in its products, one of the three major manufacturers of these machines has embarked upon a campaign of sending cease-and-desist letters to those who criticize it. The company first sent one to the academic researchers and then later sent many to individuals and groups who republished internal email messages that reveal both the problems with the systems and employee attempts to cover up those problems. E-Voting technology is promising, but its benefits should not obscure its dangers. Without basic auditing checks, these machines dramatically increase the chances for undetectable election fraud. This archive is a resource in the fight for accountable elections and responsible voting technology. NOTE: More information on all litigation related to verified voting is available at http://www.verifiedvoting.org/legal/
Contact the Congress!
Contacting the Congress is a very up-to-date database of congressional contact information for the 108th Congress. As of August 14, 2004 there are 520 email addresses (of which 448 are Web-based email homepages), and 540 WWW homepages known for the 540 members of the 108th Congress. More traditional ground mail addresses are available for all Congressmembers
Voters Unite!
About Us We believe we can make a difference, but we can't do it alone. We need you, too. Our highest priority is to work toward elections in which we can be confident. We have been very active in the fight for verifiable voting, and we feel an urgency to participate in unity of action with all the diverse groups and individuals who now consider themselves 'voting activists' as well as those who have recently become concerned about elections in the United States. Ellen Theisen worked with VerifiedVoting.org from August 2003 through March 2004. She spearheaded the volunteer lobbying efforts that tripled the number of co-sponsors for H.R.2239 and led to the introduction of companion Senate bills. She is now dedicated to unifying activists in an effort to secure our elections. Peter Johnson, activist, grassroots mobilizer, and founder of www.americanether.net. Helping to free information and encourage civic participation, he has assisted various organizations working for election accountability and transparency.
Coloradoans for Voting Integrity
7114 West Jefferson Avenue, Suite 100
Lakewood, CO 80235
Ph: (303) 231-1031 | Fx: (303) 980-0609
7114 West Jefferson Avenue, Suite 100
Lakewood, CO 80235
Ph: (303) 231-1031 | Fx: (303) 980-0609
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