SENATE RETURNS TO ELECTION REFORM NEXT WEEK
Crucial Votes Expected, Your Voice Needs to be Heard
(League of Women Voters Letter)
Beginning Monday, February 25, the Senate will again debate the
Dodd-McConnell election reform bill supported by the League.
Late in the week of February 14, the Senate began work on the bill
and completed action on some amendments. But next week the
crucial votes on key amendments are expected. Your voice,
and the voice of other League members, needs to be heard.
The League has worked closely with Senators Dodd, McConnell, Bond
and Schumer on a bipartisan election reform bill that has been
offered as a substitute to Senator Dodd's initial bill, S. 565.
The bill is a strong and effective one that will protect and
enhance each citizen's right to vote and to have that vote counted
fairly and equally.
The Dodd-McConnell substitute provides for basic national
standards in vital, but limited, areas. It provides
substantial federal funds for election reform efforts. And
it provides a blueprint on which federal, state and local efforts
can be built.
To protect voters and improve administration, the substitute
provides for minimum national standards in three areas:
1. Voting System Standards. This will assure that voters can
verify and correct their ballots, as well as be notified of
overvotes. These standards also protect against high voting
machine error rates and enhance access for person with
disabilities.
2. Provisional Ballots. This fail-safe system means that if
a voter's name is not found on the registration list at the polls,
or if other problems occur, the voter can still cast a ballot that
will be counted if the voter's eligibility is confirmed. The
voter will be notified that a provisional ballot may be cast and
whether the ballot is ultimately counted.
3. Statewide, Computerized Voter Registration Lists. This
facilitates removal of duplicate registrations across
jurisdictions, provides greater assurance that names will be on
the rolls, and streamlines administration while combating possible
fraud.
While the Dodd-McConnell bill is a strong one, it needs to be
improved in several ways. The bill contains a photo ID
requirement for some first-time voters that will result in
discrimination and create administrative problems at polling
places. It also contains a "safe harbor" provision
that prevents effective enforcement and extends deadlines
unnecessarily. That's why the League is supporting two key
amendments.
1. The Wyden-Schumer Amendment will allow states that currently
use an attestation or signature to verify voter eligibility to
retain their systems in order to avoid disenfranchising first-time
voters. It will also protect against discrimination in
verification programs.
2. The Kennedy Amendment will ensure that there are no legal
loopholes that prevent enforcement and will assure that national
standards are met in a timely fashion.
America deserves an election system that will protect the most
basic and precious right of all citizens in a democracy - the
right to vote. Each citizen's right to vote, and to have
that vote fairly counted, is at stake. Please contact your
Senators today. Every time you contact your Senators, your
voice is counted.
ACTION NEEDED
1. Lobby your Senators at home. With the Senate on recess
until February 25, your Senators may be making appearances in your
state. Call their district offices to find their schedules,
and then buttonhole them or ask a question at a public event.
2. Call your Senators. All Senators need to hear from their
constituents. You can reach your Senators through the
Capitol Hill switchboard at 202-224-3121or 202-225-3121.
3. E-mail or fax your Senators. Go to the Legislative
Action Center of the LWVUS website at www.capwiz.com/lwv
to e-mail your Senators directly or to find your Senators' fax
numbers.
4. Contact your grassroots network, your friends and other
concerned citizens. Sent this alert to your e-mail address
list with a personal note asking them to take action.
MESSAGE
1. Ask your Senators to support the WYDEN-SCHUMER AMENDMENT on
election reform. The Wyden-Schumer Amendment will protect
against discrimination and allow states that currently use an
attestation or signature to verify voter eligibility to retain
their systems.
2. Ask your Senators to support the KENNEDY AMENDMENT. The
Kennedy Amendment will ensure that there are no legal loopholes
that prevent meeting national election standards in a timely
manner.
3. Ask your Senators to vote against weakening amendments and to
pass the Dodd-McConnell election reform bill.
KEY SENATORS
Every Senator needs to hear from his or her constituents.
The following Senators especially need to be lobbied to support
the Wyden-Schumer Amendment and the Kennedy Amendment:
Stevens
(AK)
McCain
(AZ)
Feinstein (CA)
Campbell (CO)
Carper
(DE)
Fitzgerald (IL)
Miller
(GA)
Brownback (KS)
Breaux
(LA)
Collins
(ME)
Snowe
(ME)
Baucus
(MT)
Nelson
(NE)
Domenici (NM)
Voinovich (OH)
Smith
(OR)
Spector
(PA)
Chafee
(RI)
Jeffords
(VT)
Warner
(VA)
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