Why I STILL cannot support Holt (HR 811)

Written by: John Burik on May 17, 2007 9:58 PM EDT

While the intent of Rush Holt's HR 811 was a step toward restoring our election process, the reality is quite another matter.  Worse, the substitute bill introduced about a week ago permits software companies to demand nondisclosure agreements from election officials. Thus Holt backed down from one of the most important features of the legislation. SECRET SOFTWARE means secret vote counting, and that erases any hope that 2008 will be an improvement on 2000 or 2004.

The bill permits the continued existence of the Election Assistance Commission (EAC), the continued use of touch screen voting machines, and funds machines which do not yet (and may not ever) exist.  In a few states that do not currently require a "paper trail" the bill may provide some benefit, for example, the Christine Jennings race in Florida.  This one small step forward is by far outweighed by secret software, DREs, and the White House appointed EAC.

Whether you support Hand Counted Paper Ballots or some use of electronic voting, the secret vote counting permitted by Holt is anathema to democracy.  i urge you to oppose HR 811. 

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