DUers for electronic voting reform -- Take our new site for a spin!

[hedda_foil]

As a lot of you know, Vote Trust USA is a fairly new non profit organization founded by several of us who have been working on what we used to call BBV issues for the past 2-1/2 years. Our purpose is to support the state and locally-based groups that have been working so hard in the legislative trenches, without a reliable way to connect to each other, much less to form a real alliance.

We've been getting by with a temporary site for the past couple of months until our new database-driven site was completed. It's finally up and running, and ready to go out for a spin.

Please go check it out. Look around, kick the tires, sign up for updates, comment on the articles etc etc etc. Several key reference pieces were developed by Wilms and the DU research team. We think they're the best around!

Please let us know what you think!

www.votetrustusa.org

Thanks

Joan Krawitz aka hedda_foil
Executive Director
Vote Trust USA

It all started here at DU.

[Eloriel]

1. Congratulations -- Edit: And NOMINATED, of course

And mega-thanks.

Mega hugs too. You've been on my mind really big the last few days; now I know why. Give me a call when you have a few minutes to chat.

Off to look at the new site ...

:loveya:

[hedda_foil]

2. Thanks, Eloriel!

I've missed you bigtime as well. I've been working 16 hours a day getting the site up and putting together our Leadership Workshop in DC this weekend. If I can call before I leave for the Lobby Days, I definitely will! Otherwise, I'll call for sure when I get home.

Would you believe I have to race out of DC to get back to Chicago in time to see Howard on Sunday? I'm not gonna miss that!

The biggest news of all is that Maya (my 10 month old granddaughter) is WALKING!

hugs,
Joan

[Eloriel]

16. 10 Months already -- good grief!

and walking. Oh, my, watch out world.

For anyone interested, this little girl child is the SPARKLIEST little thing I've ever seen. I just have to say it again: Watch out world!

The site looks terrific, Joan. Well done, as always.

[hedda_foil]

19. Okay, I can't resist. Here's the sparkly one!

[Eloriel]

23. "Ballerina" -- came to me before the photo was much past her chin

LOOK at that pose. My goodness, I'm expecting a plie right there, right now.

Absolutely adorable. Chuckle. But you knew that already. ;-)

[hedda_foil]

24. Thanks, hon.

I hadn't even picked up on the ballerina pose, but you're right! She thinks she's quite something with her hair ribbon, not that she has any hair to speak of!

[Eloriel]

25. Oh, I definitely noticed the hair

um, problem. ROTFL. But thought better of mentioning it.

And she's absolutely right: She IS quit something!

[greatauntoftriplets]

3. Great site, hedda!!!

Congratulations. I just registered.

:hi:

[hedda_foil]

5. Thanks, GreatAunt!

It's Andy's site too, ya know.

He's our Training Director, though we'll have to fill in for him until he's well again.

[greatauntoftriplets]

7. I know.

Talked to him earlier today. I am so damn happy he is going home and that Mom will be with him soon.

[Eloriel]

17. Training Director. Now THERE's a great fit.

This is going to be wonderful. I'm so pleased. You go, girl!

[acmejack]

4. Quite nice!

Very good work, here's to alot of success!

[gumby]

6. Wonderful!

In the expression of 'The Simpson's' Mr. Burns, "exceeellleent."

[MelissaB]

8. Beautifully done!

I'm going to post this in ER&D in the "daily thread", too.

[hedda_foil]

14. Thanks, Melissa!

[meganmonkey]

9. Looks great!

I look forward to exploring it fully.

Thank you for working on such an important issue. Our democracy depends on it!

:patriot:

[BurtWorm]

10. Excellent!

Very nice looking, substantial tasting site. I wish you all the best. I'll test drive it when I get a chance.

:toast:

[hedda_foil]

20. thanks, Burt. I'll be watching for you!

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Good luck!!

!!

[BrightKnight]

12. Andy Stephenson is on of the officers. -n/t

[hedda_foil]

15. He is indeed!

[Lone_Star_Dem]

13. It looks great!

I only had time for a test drive at the moment, but I'm sure I'm going to get alot of mileage from it. :)

Good work! :toast:

[Hubert Flottz]

18. Great Job...Bookmarked!

I'm proud of ya!

[Melissa G]

21. Nominated ,Bookmarked and Registered!

Great Job Hedda et al!

[Generic Other]

22. Good to see the work goes on!

Wishing you the best of luck in your new endeavor!

[eridani]

26. Looks to be really national in scope

Could you maybe get Chuck Herrin, to convey to people that this is a non-partisan issue?

This may be the site that will unify all the disparate and local groups.

[hedda_foil]

37. Good idea about Chuck, eridani.

Thanks!

[stickdog]

27. Way to go, hedda!

Great job!

[Jose Diablo]

28. I agree

"We think they're the best around!"

[FizzFuzz]

29. Looks Great--Thanks!!!

The quick look I had at articles was refreshing. Clear, to the point, informational. Even I, with no background in political process, could understand the various bills you describe.

Thank You.

Hey, I also want to say, hooray for providing a link between all the various grassroots groups. WooooDawgies!

[mogster]

30. Great site!

Bookmarked! I'll have a look around later, when off work :-)

[JNelson6563]

31. No wonder I've been a long-time fan

Rock on Joan! :yourock:


Julie--but a star to your sun :-)

[PATRICK]

32. Very good

Of course this is another nail biter for years to see IF there is a paper trail, easy if not routine paper recounts, oversight of the areas of abuse and certification, policing of the tabulators as well as the precincts.

In those cases I wonder if your rebuttal of sequoia is being forwarded to the attention of NY legislators. The starry eyed marks in Cayuga County for example and their newspapers seem 'ready to make a decision" for DRE's without a hint of the criticisms of dangers or abuses or even any description of what it is they find so acceptable.

Legislative information competing against lobbyists and above all, ignorance, seems a daunting task despite people like Sheldon Silver somewhat up to speed on the paper trail need at least.

The human element leaving our system wide open to fraud is stunning and a naivete or computer illiteracy easy prey to salesmen worldwide. That also brings up the issue of computers themselves and the inherent dangers of the rushed system and the blaring red lights and sirens at almost every turn, not to mention very questionable but impossible to question results.

They listened to Dr. Rubin, a rare scientist who bothered to approach the voting issue. They also listen to the siren song of lobbyists, HAVA demands, and dangerously influenced peers in a Dem party almost oblivious and silent on an issue where a man on the street can get the main points in five minutes- and then lose trust in a system his leaders can't imagine is even under assault.

So I liked the specific issue and news format and its concentration. The REAL picture is very much darker and all the more so if ANY of the advocacy is not acted upon and falls on deaf ears. Even the idea of the paper trail is a fall-back line of second defense once computer code interposes itself in the voting the counting and recording. With Carter, this professional attitude is not addressing the open attack on our vote by the GOP and in particular those who control the machines. Their attack is not relegated to electronic voting either.

It is a paper trail line drawn in the sand of code with the Dems, the journalists and most of the people not getting it very much at all. I hope you get results and much more than in holding back the tide of untrustworthy machines in a few states, since it appears much more of the nation will be under their control next time no matter what small victories are won here and there.

More than anything the lobbying of (NY) reps must be done with great concentration and cannot rely on letter writing or phone calls alone. The real story is our state here is under HAVA assault. we were always told people were "working on" HAVA to get it all right but in the end the cheat machines in terrible lack of accountability end up in the precincts with all sorts of odd things happening. Only a fair vote on paper looks good on paper. TO trust people dumb enough to put these unnecessary beasts in the polling places in the first place will take a lot more than attractive legislation.

Don't get me wriong. It is great work. Relevant to the day by day progressive fight. It just is like when Bev came out with her book and her crusade. The machines are still going in even if slowed down a bit and nothing changed by election day means another blow against democracy itself. People will be looking at web sites on insurrection then.

[leftchick]

33. Excellent site hedda!

I have bookmarked and will pass it on!

:woohoo:

[symbolman]

34. Great work!

Always admired what you've done.. one question tho, can you contact me (PM is fine) about the film/DVD "Electile Dysfunction" should it be offered to you?

There happens to be a legal cloud hanging over it and I wouldn't want you to promote a potentially illegal copy, or the wrong one before the matter is cleared up.

Otherwise we're behind you 100% at Takebackthemedia.com!

[lady lib]

35. VERY nicely organized,

easy on the eyes, easy to use. Wow, good job!

[hedda_foil]

36. Thanks, lady lib!

That's a high compliement.

[Rainscents]

38. Kick!!! I donated to the site!!!

[hedda_foil]

41. Thank you SO much, Rainscents!

You're our first online donation!

[liberal N proud]

39. Thanks and a Kick!

[lonestarnot]

40. Yeah! Kill the vote machines before they kill us!

[JRob]

42. Very nice! *** Kick & Vote

[Helga Scow Stern]

43. Questions raised about electoral reform donations...

Your name is posted in a disturbing post in the 2004 Election forum.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x375928


The original post exposes it as a scam, but that is not how it looks in the Election Forum.

You might want to correct it so people don't get the wrong idea.

[hedda_foil]

49. Cross-posted. Thanks.

[Chicago1]

44. Joan, GREAT site

Joan,

This is a wonderful organnization. Good for you!!!!

Waiting for the IMPEACHMENT WHILE THE SCANDALS KEEP UNFOLDING
America's Work Stories
http://usaworkstories.blogspot.com
[e-mail]

[troubleinwinter]

45. Another nomination because it is so IMPORTANT! Great site!

[Gelliebeans]

46. Congratulations

and Thank You Joan for all the work you do.

gelliebeans

[sonias]

47. Thanks hedda_foil, great site

I'd actually seen it before. I'm going to the training this weekend. Maybe we'll meet you.

Texas coming your way. We need all the help we can get.

Sonia

[hedda_foil]

51. You bet will meet there, Sonia.

[jarnocan]

48. going down to WDC tomorrow for the Verified voting Lobby

Open letter to Bush tell him to stop initmidating the media and answer Rep. Conyer's questions concerning the Downing St. memo;
which indicate that Bush lied and conspired to lie about the reasons we invaded Iraq. <http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/591048046>

I will be leaving tomorrow for Washington DC and will bring these with me. Support Verified Voting and meaningful investigation to enable election reforms <http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/907402825> thnnks!
http://jarnocan.blogspot.com NoBU**SH**zone.

[hedda_foil]

50. I'll see you there.

It's not Verified Voting's Lobby Days, actually. A coalition has done all the work and is sponsoring the event. They are part of the coalition, but by no means have they contributed more time, work or funds than any other member group. The other members are VoteTrustUSA, Common Cause, Voters Unite and EFF.

[WillyT]

52. Great Job Guys !!! - Congrats !!!

:yourock: