NYT: Democrats Plan to Assess Voting State by State

[babylonsister]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/02/us/politics/02dems.html?_r=3&ref=washington&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

Democrats Plan to Assess Voting State by State


By JACQUELINE PALANK
Published: August 2, 2007

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 — The Democratic Party will announce on Thursday a state-by-state effort to identify potential problems in how elections are administered before the 2008 presidential election.

In the 2000 and 2004 elections, there were widespread instances of voters being turned away from the polls because of a shortage of voting machines or the illegal removal of their names from registration lists. And despite changes made in federal election law in 2002, the 2004 election demonstrated that many states and localities were not enforcing them.

The committee will ask staff members to interview election officials in the country’s more than 3,000 counties, said Anna Martinez, director of the committee’s voting rights institute. Ms. Martinez said the interviews would address type of voting machines, how many are sent to a polling place and how absentee ballot requests and voter registrations are handled.

The 2002 law expanded the government’s role in regulating elections and voter registration.

“Our candidates need to know how elections work in every single precinct,” said Howard Dean, the Democratic Party chairman. “That is an enormous advantage when you’re going up against a party that is essentially a vote suppressor.”

The Republican National Committee said it also tried to ensure compliance. “We’re aware of the law and work with our state parties to make sure they not only understand the law but have the resources they need to comply with the law,” said Tracey Schmitt, press secretary for the Republican committee.

[librechik]

1. thank you Dems!

[IndyOp]

2. Excellent! I think the U.S. Atty scandal may have moved the DNC forward

on this issue.

In the past, they haven't wanted to make much noise because they were afraid that discussing problems with voting would cause people to be LESS likely to go vote.

Finally, I think the U.S. Atty scandal has changed their minds -- people will be MORE likely to vote if they know that there is a organized effort to make certain that everyone who is eligible to vote will be able to vote and their votes will be counted and reported accurately.

And...this is a great development because it isn't sufficient for a Presidential candidate to promise the people that s/he will protect their votes. That candidate, their campaign just doesn't have the feet on the ground to keep an eye on things before, during, and after each election. Making elections fair has to be a job accomplished by dozens of people in each of the 3,077 counties in these united states and this long-term job has to be spear-headed by the national parties and championed by the state parties.

[babylonsister]

3. I'm glad something has finally 'moved' them! Better late than never. nt

[CatWoman]

4. this is important

:kick: back to the top!!

[babylonsister]

5. Thanks; I thought so, too. Maybe not so much! nt