Switchboards Light Up in Congress
UPDATED BELOW—ANOTHER UPDATE–THIRD UPDATE
Washington Congressman Norm Dicks told one of his constituents that Congress was being “inundated with calls in favor of the Ban-DRE amendment.” DRE is lingo for touchscreen voting machines.
The calls came pouring in when a rumor arose that the House Rules committee would allow a vote on such an amendment when the Holt paper trail bill reaches the floor. At this writing it is unclear if the Rules committee has adopted such a rule or even if the bill will make it to the floor this week as had been expected.
So YOU have time to call, too. DREs are the evil heart of the election Frankenstein we deal with today. Every time they are investigated by impartial computer scientists, DREs flunk. They should definitely be banned.
Here’s the Rules Committee phone number: 202-225-9091
For good measure, here’s the phone of Rules chairwoman Louise Slaughter of NY: Phone: (202) 225-3615
Fax: (202) 225-7822
And don’t forget your own Representative:
Bruce Braley (202) 225-2911
Dave Loebsack http://loebsack.house.gov/contactform
Leonard Boswell Phone: (202) 225-3806
Fax: (202) 225-5608
Tom Latham– Toll Free:866-428-5642
Steve King–Phone: 202.225.4426
Fax: 202.225.3193
Let freedom ring!
UPDATE: Thursday’s New York Times has editorialized in favor of the DRE ban:
It is unfortunate that the bill does not contain a provision banning the use of touch-screen voting machines. A touch-screen ban would encourage states to use optical scan machines, which rely on paper ballots read by a computer, like a standardized test form. Optical scans are less expensive and less vulnerable to vote theft.
There is still time before the bill becomes law to add a ban on touch-screen voting. If the House fails to do so, the Senate should, and it should fight for it to be in the final bill.
Read it here.
ANOTHER UPDATE: Expect this bill to be taken up by the Rules Committee Friday morning. Call now. Ask them to allow a DRE ban amendment or even ask to have an “open rule” which will allow any amendments that may be drafted as the bill is debated.
THIRD UPDATE: Friday Rules Committee meeting cancelled. Use the extra time to tell your own Congressman what you think. They are paying attention now!