The election is over - unless we focus on the real issue - paper trails

[genius]

Graham's and Holt's bills are stalled. The only way Kerry wins is if they pass. The DNC needs to use every penny it has to convince the public to force their representatives and senators to back these bills. The right ads will put the jobs of the representatives and senators on the line. "Would you support someone who won't support your right to vote?" Kerry will absolutely win if we get voter-verifiable paper trails. Without a voter-verifiable paper trail, it looks as if the election will be very close at best and, more likely, a sizable victory for Bush.

[John_H]

1. This sentiment is grossly overstated and counterproductive.

I know a lot of folks around here really really really really really care about BBV as well you should. But there's no reason to make gross misstatements just because you care deeply about something. There's no reason to lead people to believe that if your pet legislation gets stalled then we lose automatically so there's no point in voting at all.

The election is not "over" if we don't get paper trails. Why? Because we each have it 00% in our power to make voting machines irrelevant. Before they can steal it, it's got to get close. Real close. Want to irrelevize Diebold? Easy. Take three previously-nonvoting liberals to the polls with you.

The election is over if we don't get Kerry voters out to the polls, not if the Holt bill stalls.

[For PaisAn]

2. I tend to disagree

Since they can produce whatever results they want, how on earth will we know whether it's close or not? They can steal it by keeping the results from showing as close. And since, I believe, they won't be doing exit polls -It is over.

[redqueen]

3. Nice post

I agree that GOTV efforts can trump any kind of dirty trick they can pull short of cancelling elections altogether.

Somehow I think that if they try to steal it this time it won't be only the repukes rioting.

:evilgrin:

[OneBlueSky]

4. I don't think you overstate it at all . . .

as long as BushCo owns the voting machines, they can produce any result they want, with no fear of getting caught . . . they've done it before and no one called them on it, and they'll do it again . . . pick a few key districts in a few key states, massage the numbers and, voila, President Bush! . . . and they won't care what the polls say, or many voters claim to have voted for Kerry . . . if you don't think they're fully capable of stealing this election outright, you haven't been paying attention . . .

[sendero]

5. As a computer programmer...

... I'm well on board with the idea that the current voting systems can be manipulated.

What I'm not on board with is all this paranoia that they can "set any result they want".

They can't. They especially can't if there is exit polling. They especially can't if there is high suspicion.

They can move the numbers a percent or two, that is all. That's not good, but it is not a hopeless situation - and folks who think it is should take a few deep breaths.

[Andy_Stephenson]

6. Paper Ballot not Paper trails...

Papertrails mean nothing...they have no legal definition.

[BabsSong]

7. Noticed a CNN ticker that stated that more and more state legislatures

are getting concerned over BBV. How about starting a drive to allow every other thing on the BBV machines but the vote for President on a card given to each voter and counted by hand. That's a reasonable solution to propose until they can get the "bugs" (cough, cough) out. Surely not any repuke or dem governor would object.....would ya', Jeb?? And make a point that anyone that does, must be intending to "fix" the election. A little publicity could go a long way here.