E-mail I Received Back From Senator Bill Nelson About The Certification

[PennyMan]

Dear *****:

Thank you for contacting me about certification of the 2004
presidential election.

During the joint session of Congress held on January 6, 2005,
Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio officially objected to
certification of her state's electoral votes. Senator Barbara Boxer of
California joined Representative Jones as the Senate sponsor of the
objection, triggering a two-hour debate and vote on the objection in each
chamber. At the close of the debate, both the House and Senate voted to
validate the Ohio vote.

I have been closely monitoring our elections systems during my career
in the Senate. Before the election, I supported several initiatives and
legislation to ensure the accuracy of electronic voting machines.

As you may know, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) plans to
investigate voter registration, electronic voting machines, and the
processing of provisional ballots. The Election Assistance Commission
(EAC) also announced plans to hold public hearings on voter registration
guidelines, statewide registration databases, and provisional balloting.
The EAC is receiving election data from across the country, including
information on the use of provisional ballots. I await the GAO's and EAC's
findings so that we can improve our nation's voting process.

I appreciate hearing your thoughts on this issue, and will continue
my efforts so all citizens have the opportunity to vote and feel confident
that their votes are counted.




P.S. From time to time, I compile electronic news briefs highlighting key
issues and hot topics of particular importance to Floridians. If you'd
like to receive these e-briefs, visit my Web site and sign up for them at
http://billnelson.senate.gov/newpages/newsletter.cfm .

[Helga Scow Stern]

1. Yes, one of the EAC's hearings is being held 1/18. Do these agencies

carry any weight? Are they sincere?


Edited to add link for hearing:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x275046

[electropop]

2. GAO is serious. EAC is not.

The GAO (formerly General Accounting Office, now Government Accountability Office) is a well respected institution, occasionally prone to spitting in the face of Congressional majorities. I do have some hope they'll come up with good stuff.

[Helga Scow Stern]

6. So it would be more useful to write to them, not the H.Judiciary Committee

???

It looks like Ney may try to use the EAC to conduct his "hearing" soon.

[Beth in VT]

3. EAC looks like a joke to me.

check out their website at www.eac.gov.

[MarkusQ]

4. My first thought was: He called you "BushBushBushBushBush"? (n/t)

[Helga Scow Stern]

5. Ha ha. n/t

[berniew1]

7. Voting correctly on election reform is not enough.

He hasn't shown enough concern for these issues, and he seems to be afraid of the Repubs. Doesn't want to make them upset with him.

[berniew1]

8. He should have challanged the Florida electors. There was enough documenta

tion of widespread systematic vote machine fraud along with dirty tricks and suppression of minorities and students in Florida to make the Florida results questionable.
http://www.flcv.com/fraudpat.html

[librechik]

9. Did not answer the question.

Good to know he's aware of election reform. Why did he not stand with Conyers?