Are we missing the ball? Where are the citizen initiatives on e-voting?

[garybeck]

Here in Vermont we do not have the right to introduce legislation through a citizen based initiative process. But in half the other states, this is a right of all citizens.

I've been trying to keep on top of things but I have not heard of or seen any citizen based state initiatives regarding evoting, paper trails/ballots, audits, open source, etc...

This seems like a perfect way to get some good legislation introduced and passed, for the states that allow it. I think in most cases, it would be fairly easy to get enough signatures when the issue is increasing security and accuracy of elections. And once the issue is on the ballot, it would be hard for me to imagine it being voted down by the public (of course unless the machines are used to count the votes, but that's another story...).

The only ones I've heard of were the ones in Ohio that were voted down (yes, using the machines). KUDOS to Ohio citizens for trying.

Tell me, are there such initiatives in other states that I didn't notice? Or are they in the works for the coming elections? ARe people trying to get them on the ballot now?

If I lived in a state that allowed citizen ballot initiatives, I would be directing much if not most of my effort towards this. It's one of the only ways I can think of that we can cut through all the BS and improve the system, directly.

If we are not doing it already, we should use this right in every state where it exists. There should be a coordinated effort to make sure that a group in every state is giving serious thought to it.

"normal" legislation requires an elected official to introduce a bill, and the state legislature will probably water it down and who knows if it will pass. But citizen initiatives circumvent the process and puts the power in the hands of the people. Is this not the exact avenue we should be using to try to improve our election systems?

Are we missing the ball?

[rumpel]

1. Good point n/t

[EFerrari]

2. Paging Guv.

I'm trying to find a way to sponsor Guv at an SF County event. After reading him and thinking about this for a bit, I think he's got it exactly right. Statewide is harder and less stable in some ways. By approaching it at the county level, we are really building something solid. :shrug:

[garybeck]

6. but election laws are handled at the state level

I hear you about the value of working locally, but to get a law passed it needs to go to the state. and what I'm saying is that using the citizen initiative process may be a much more affective tact than trying to get a legislator to introduce a bill the traditional way.

I've lived in CA and OR and seen dozens of initiatives on many subjects, some of which have little affect on the everyday lives of people. With all the good hard working folks here I'm just a little surprised that we haven't grabbed this thing by the horns and started collecting signatures for a ballot measure. Especially in CA, where there are so many ballot measures every election, and there's a stalemate in the legislature and a loser SoS. Circumvent it all and introduce a ballot measure! Why aren't we doing this? If I could in VT, I would for sure.

[EFerrari]

7. I think you are right, Gary. But at the same time, if I could get

a solid core of support in, San Francisco say, the state shrinks up doesn't it, because I've tapped into a network.

If we get a working group together, I'm in and I'll try not to be too much of a pain. We could help with the sigs very easily.

And for sure, we DON'T WAIT FOR ANYONE.

[Bill Bored]

3. It's an excellent point Gary and it's a disgrace that after all we've seen

in 2004 and prior years, this isn't happening yet.

The only conclusion I can come to is that some of us are just whiners who sit on the sidelines and wait for others do to all the heavy lifting (and get swift-boated in the process for their trouble).

[L. Coyote]

4. Are we missing the ball?

With the Internet, it might be easier to get support/signatures. Even if such attempt fail, they garner attention for issues. The first initiative petition to raise the minimum wage did not get enough signatures, but the idea really took off and proved particularly successful.

Also, many of the culture war initiatives are simply get-out-the-redneck-vote tools. That strategy can work both ways!! DCheck the stats on elections with minimum wage initiatives.

[Cookie wookie]

5. self-deleted.

[L. Coyote]

8. just kicking n/t