If Democrats sweep the 2006 elections will there still be a demand to

[Toots]

eliminate voting machines? I will still want paper trails no matter who wins or loses but will the issue sort of die away or will we remain committed to reform? I for one want the damn machines thrown into the bay never to be used again and go to totally paper ballots counted by human beings but that ain't gunna happen. My question, will the issue remain alive if we win?

[ronnykmarshall]

1. Steamroller

Run the damn things over with a steamroller.

[porphyrian]

2. Winning this year may be the only way to get it done. - n/t

[bullimiami]

3. yes. honest, open and fair voting is the foundation of democracy.

and its failure leads to what we have suffered for the last 5+ years.

i honestly believe the senate and the presidency would have remained democratic if not for the shenanigans.
i dont know about the house but thats possible too.

[long_green]

4. We must insist that the issue remain alive

no privatization of our most precious right.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. There should be

They can be easily rigged and should not be used to store and count votes. A rigged election is a rigged election, whether it's done by Democrats, Republicans or the Natural Law Party.

At the very least, the machine should dispense a paper ballot which is cast and counted.

[JohnnyRingo]

6. If the Democrats sweep '06

The Republicans will deem the election null and void, demand a "do-over" with re-programmed machines.
The president will declare he wrote a secret proclaimation that no party may hold unaminous seats in any branch.
Right Wing pundits will claim "this goes back to Clinton" and Fox News will air endless series on how the Dems stole the election.

Sounds ridiculous, but nothing surprises me any more.

[SheilaT]

7. First off, I don't think

anyone should even be THINKING about a possible Dem sweep this year. That sort of thing gets people complacent, and above all, we should never get complacent.

Replacing voting machines with no paper trail needs to be a top priority, completely apart from any results on election day. Pure and simply, we need verifiable ballots and voting.

Secondly, do not assume a free, fair, and honest election this year. We have not had one since before 2000, and there's no reason to think we'll have one this time around. Never, never forget that those currently in power came to power in a coup, and they will never give up that power to anything so silly as a free, fair, and honest election.