Support My Confidence in Voting Act Now!

In September 2007, over 16,000 supporters emailed their member of Congress, urging them to support my bill that would encourage local jurisdictions to make paper ballots available at every polling place

Following is the text from that online advocacy campaign:

The American people deserve an elections system that is beyond reproach -- a system where every vote counts and every vote is counted.  That's why I've introduced new legislation, co-sponsored by Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), to address this problem -- and I hope you'll urge your Members of Congress to support it.

My "Confidence in Voting Act" is simple.  It urges local jurisdictions to make paper ballots available at every polling place, so any voter who wants one can use one, and so there is a back-up in case electronic voting machines fail.  What's more, my legislation defrays the cost by reimbursing local jurisdictions up to $.75 for each of these contingency paper ballots produced.

This is a win-win for local governments and for individual voters.  The "Confidence in Voting Act" will make it easier for states to do the right thing in this November's election -- and it will make the American people more confident about the outcome.  Please forward an email to your Members of Congress now -- urge them to support my "Confidence in Voting Act" before Congress adjourns this week!

Letter to members of Congress:

The American people deserve an elections system that is beyond reproach -- a system where every vote counts and every vote is counted.  That's why I urge you to support Senator Barbara Boxer's "Confidence in Voting Act" and ensure that it is passed before Congress adjourns this week.

Unfortunately, as we've seen in recent primary elections in Maryland, California, Georgia and other states, new electronic voting machines designed to make it easier for more people to vote are failing, and poll workers haven't been trained to use the new technology properly.  Consequently, untold thousands of voters have been turned away from the polls or cast votes that weren't properly counted.

This is unacceptable in the United States of America.  The "Confidence in Voting Act" is simple.  It urges local jurisdictions to make paper ballots available at every polling place, so any voter who wants one can use one.  What's more, this legislation defrays the cost by reimbursing local jurisdictions up to $.75 for each of these contingency paper ballots produced.

This is a win-win for local governments and for individual voters.  The "Confidence in Voting Act" will make it easier for states to do the right thing in this November's election -- and it will make the American people more confident about the outcome.

I urge you to support Senator Boxer's "Confidence in Voting Act" and ensure that it passes before Congress adjourns in November.