In case you didn't notice, a bill for paper ballots was just voted DOWN in Congress.

[demodonkey]

HR 5803 would have provided backup paper ballots to areas that are going to have to use paperless electronic voting machines in November.

It was brought up by Steny Hoyer as a suspension bill requiring 2/3rds majority and it didn't get the 2/3rds it needed when it was voted on this evening.

Overall the bill got
248 YES
170 NO
16 Not Voting
IT DID NOT PASS -- Needed 290


Information about HR 5803 here: http://clerk.house.gov/cgi-bin/lgwww_bill.pl?205803
Full voting results here: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll493.xml

The White House opposed this bill today, calling it "administratively burdensome". Bush did this to the last bill for paper ballots (HR 5036), back in April, and it didn't get the 2/3rds majority needed either.

[gateley]

1. A FEW Repubs came over to the right side,

but other than that, straight down party lines.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Fine. Obama will win anyway.

[Yellow Horse]

4. I hope you're right, but DO NOT be so sure.

The companies that make these paperless machines are GOP-founded and controlled.

Read the California Top-To-Bottom Review, the EVEREST report from Ohio, or the work of Ed Felten in Princeton. THESE MACHINES ARE NOT TO BE TRUSTED, so do not "trust" that Obama will win.

Between hacking, caging, messing up registrations, and other deceptive practices a LOT of Dem votes are going to be lost.

[tbyg52]

10. Ummmm..... Can you say "Max Cleland"....? nt

[cyberpj]

3. Just emailed my state's naysayer to explain his vote.

Asked for what possible reason he had to vote against this.
I'll call if no response within 10 days.
This is getting ridiculous.

[Wilms]

5. Was that a good move by Hoyer?

Let it pass on a smaller margin and let Bush veto it. No?

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. How did the Dems vote?

Only dishonest crooks would have voted against it.

[Duke Newcombe]

7. That seals it. Off to get some poll monitor training...

...like RIGHT FREEKIN' NOW.

I'll be damned if I'll passively allow an election to be stolen...again.

Duke

[jazzjunkysue]

8. It's only the backup ofr failed machines. Nice idea but not what we really

need.

Ok,ok, it would help but, a federal requirement for paper ballots would really get us somewhere. It would eliminate the computer tabulations altogether.

Even if this passed, it would still permit the GOP their secret tabulators for 99% of votes.

[LuckyLib]

9. I don't want to hear one member of Congress talk about needing to save paper. The reams of paper

mailed from Congress to constituents renders that argument mute.

[tbyg52]

11. Well, mine voted "yea"

and also voted to get Kucinch's impeachment resolution a hearing. Maybe things are looking up here in DeLay land.

[demodonkey]

12. "Emergency paper ballots are the air bag of our democracy."

"Would we ever think of not investing in life rafts on ships, air bags on cars, or fire escapes on buildings? Emergency paper ballots are the air bag of our democracy."

-- Rep. Susan Davis (D) CA-53, speaking on the floor of the US House on 7/15/2008 in support of HR 5803