Election Reform - framing the context [View All]

[suffragette]

Due to the governor's race in Washington State, election reform has become an important topic here, important enough that the state Senate Government Operations & Elections is already beginning hearings to adopt election reforms.

This is the stage when the context will be framed and shaped for this issue.
I am beginning to notice a definite split in the context, though this is not being viewed yet as a split.

That is that this issue is being approached from two different viewpoints, though these are not named as such and are at the moment being presented under the same umbrella of Election Reform.

One viewpoint is addressing the issues from the context we have been viewing as important in projects like the incipient VOTE project:
Having verifiable balloting and recount processes
Ensuring the rights of eligible voters to participate
etc

The other viewpoint is addressing the issue from a voter reform perspective although it calls itself as Election Reform. The focus here is on reforming the process by exclusionary means and can best be viewed as such by noting recent articles such as http://www.newarkadvocate.com/news/stories/20041226/localnews/1790293.html which want "to make it harder and more expensive to get election recounts" (Blackwell) or by the Rossi campaign’s accusations of ineligible voters having voted.

Faye has been absolutely right in her insistence that there is an important distinction between Election Reform and Voter Reform in intent and framing the context of the issue and now is the time for us to be sure that distinction is honored and shaped by the direction that Election Reform will take.

It is important that we start sending our reform suggestions to legislators and election committees now so that we have the focus on true election reform from the onset of the process.

Below are links to recent developments in Washington State. I encourage any Washington residents to start contacting members of the Senate Government Operations & Elections Committee and your own state representatives to encourage them to support agendas and bills that will lead to a true and verifiable reforming of the election process.

Legislators tackle election reform in wake of governor's race
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/aplocal_story.asp?category=6420&slug=WA%20XGR%20Election%20Reform

Election changes lead agenda
Several vote proposals face legislators this week
http://www.theolympian.com/home/news/20050117/topstories/70415.shtml

Washington State Legislature Legislative Meeting Schedule
Week of 1/17/2005 to 1/23/2005
Contact info: Senate Government Operations & Elections [phone]

Senate Committee Information (includes membership of committees and contact info)
http://www1.leg.wa.gov/Senate/Committees/Default.htm