AlterNet

V  oterGuides AlterNet ProgressiveVoterGuideto democracyandelections ProgressiveVoterGuidetodemocracyandelections Voter Guide to Democracy and Elections Americandemocracyisbothvibrantanddeeplyimperiledin2008.AsmillionsofAmericanspayattentiontothepresidentialcampaign,withthousandsvolunteeringinbattlegroundstates,thereisno doubtAmericansareconcernedandengaged.However,thefoundationofourrepresentativedemocracy,thevotingprocessandpublictrustinelections,isthreatenedinunprecedentedways.America’s democraticinfrastructure--thewaywevoteandcountthoseballots--hasdeepsystematicproblems.thecountrycouldbeonthevergeofthethirdconsecutivepresidentialelectioninwhichamix ofbadelectionadministration,unreliablevote-countingtechnologyanddeliberatepartisantactics willsullythevotecountandthelegitimacyofthenextpresident. theprogressivefocusondemocracyissueshasevolvedtoreflecttheseconcerns.Adecadeago,campaignfinancereformwasthepriority.Atthattime,sen.JohnMcCainwasknownforshepherdingthe BipartisanCampaignreformActthroughCongress.thatbillsoughttodilutetheimpactofwealthy people and interests by further regulating political donations. Progressives supported the bill and wereenthusiasticaboutstate-levelpublicfinancingcampaignreforms.Beforesen.Barackobama waselectedtofederaloffice,hesupportedpublicfinancingasacandidateandasalawprofessor. Butduringthe2008campaign,bothcandidateshavemadegenerallyvaguestatementsaboutprotectingtherighttovote.AndMcCainandobamaeachhaveflip-floppedonpreviousstancestosuit theirpresidentialcampaignstrategies,withobamarejectingpublicfinancingandMcCainturningto notablenumbersoflobbyiststostaffhiscampaign. sowhichcandidatecomesclosesttoaddressingthepressingissuesassociatedwithrecentnational elections?AlterNetreviewedobamaandMcCain’svotingrecordsandrecentstatementstoseehow thetwocompareoneverythingfromelectionmanagementtovotersuppression.  ProgressiveVoterGuidetodemocracyandelections 1. VOTER REGISTRATION tensofmillionsofAmericansdonotvote,insomecasesbecausetheyhavetojumpthroughbureaucratichurdlestoqualifyandregisterasvoters.someofthosehurdlesaredesignedbyrepublicans tokeepcertainsectorsofthepublicfromvotingbecausehighervoterturnoutwouldthreatentheir majorities.Whenrepublicanscite“voterfraud”asaconcern,theyusuallyareseekingtomakevoting morearduousthannecessarytodetervoterturnout.Acrossthecountrythereisarangeofregistrationlaws,witheverystateexceptNorthdakotarequiringvoterstoregister.Afewstateshaveelectiondayregistration,meaningresidentscanregisterandvoteonelectionday.intheotherstates, registrationcanbeasimpleormorecomplexprocess,withdeadlinesandidrequirements.themore complicatedtheprocess,thegreaterthelikelihoodthatpeoplewillnotvote. Solution:electiondayregistration(orsame-dayregistrationforearlyvoting)isthebestsolution,intandemwithearlyvotingopportunities(whereeligiblevoterscanregisterandthen vote).thebestwaytocombatexaggeratedpartisanclaimsaboutvoterregistrationfraud, orthesamepersonvotingmorethanonce,ispubliceducation.Votersneedtoensuretheir registrationiscurrent,bringthecorrectidtothepolls,andhaveconfidencetheywillbeable tovote,eveniftheGoPthreatenstochallengetheircredentialsatpollingplaces,assome republicansarenowdoing. Obama’s position: obamasupportselectiondayregistration.Hiscampaignrecentlysued therepublicanPartyinMichiganoverthreatsbylocalpartyofficialsthattheGoPwouldbe challengingthevoterregistrationsofpeoplewholosttheirhomestoforeclosures. McCain’s position: McCainsupportsmakingvoterregistrationeasier.Hiscampaignhasnot takenapositiononelectiondayregistration,althoughhetoldWhytuesday.orgthathedoes notfavormakingelectiondayaholiday.therepublicanNationalCommitteeandstateparty operationshavesaiddemocratic“voterfraud”isanissueneedingpolicing. Learn more: ProjectVote.org,truthAboutFraud.org2,BrennanCenter.org,AdvancementProject.org,CampaignLegalCenter.org,demos.org 2. VOTER SUPPRESSION AND BARRIERS TO VOTING Fordecades,partisanshaveusedthevoterregistrationprocessandballotaccessrulestotrytoshape theelectoratetotheiradvantage.ingeneral,themorecomplexthevotingprocess,thegreaterthe chanceofdeterringeligiblecitizensfromvoting.Perhapsthemostcontroversialexampleofthisconcernselectiondayvoterchallenges,inwhichsomestatesallowpoliticalpartiestostationvolunteers  2     http:/ /projectvote.org/ http:/ /truthaboutfraud.org/ http:/ /www.brennancenter.org/ http:/ /advancementproject.org/ http:/ /campaignlegalcenter.org/ http:/ /demos.org/home.cfm  ProgressiveVoterGuidetodemocracyandelections atpollingplacestochallengeindividualvoters’registrations.inthosecases,thechallengedvoters --whotendtobefirst-timevoterssuchstudents,poorpeopleandpeopleofcolor--mustdocument thattheirregistrationinformationmatchestheircurrentaddresstovote. Solution:Voterswhoverifythattheirregistrationinformationiscurrentbeforeelectionday andbringthecorrectidtovotewillbeallowedtovote,aslongastheyareinlinebefore thecloseofpollingplaces.statelawsorrulesbanningthevoterchallengeprocess,suchas ohio’s recently instituted rules, created by a 2008 secretary of state directive, are also a preferredsolution. Obama’s position:obamaco-sponsoreds.80,theCounteveryVoteAct,whichamends federallawwithnewrequirementsforverifiedvotingandvotecountaudits,provisionalballot use and counting, allocation of voting machines and election day resources, and new standardsforpurgingvoters,earlyvotinganddeceptiveelectionpractices. McCain’s position:McCainhastakennoknownposition,buthisFloridacampaignrecently has sent mailers that could be used to create challenge lists, and a GoP county chair in Michiganalsospokeofcreatingchallengelistsfromvoterswhorecentlylosttheirhomes duetoforeclosure. Learn more:Votersunite.org/news.asp,BrennanCenter.org8,ProjectVote.org,CampaignLegalCenter.org0,CommonCause.org 3. VERIFIABLE VOTE COUNTS inFloridain2000andinohioin200,thepresidentialvotecountwasrifewithquestionsabout fairnessandaccuracy.AfterFlorida,manystatesandcountiesreplacedoldervotingmethodswith paperless electronic voting systems. However, these voting systems have been troubling because electronicvotescanbelost,andwithoutapaperaudittrailthatshowsvoterintent,thesemachines cannotbecheckedforaccuracy.Also,theproprietarynatureofthesoftwareinthesesystems,coupled withknownsecurityrisks(suchaspoliticalinsidersalteringthecount),compoundstheirproblems.in 2008,0percentofAmericanswillvoteonpaperlessmachineswithnoaudittrail.Manycountiesin swingstatessuchasNevada,Pennsylvania,ohioandindianaareexamples. Solution: Like other modern Western democratic countries such as Canada, the united statesneedstoreturntopaper-basedvotingsystems.usingpaperballotsthataremarked bythevoterandcountedwithcomputerscannersintandemwithtransparentandrandom votecountauditsistheonlywaytoguardagainstsoftwareglitchesandvotecountfraud.  8  0  http:/ /votersunite.org/news.asp http:/ /www.brennancenter.org/ http:/ /projectvote.org/ http:/ /campaignlegalcenter.org/ http:/ /www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNKMQiwGb=8  ProgressiveVoterGuidetodemocracyandelections Obama’s position:obamaco-sponsoreds.80,theCounteveryVoteAct,whichamends federallawwithnewrequirementsforverifiedvotingandvotecountaudits,amongitsmany provisions. McCain’s position: McCainhastakennoknownpositionontheissue. Learn more: Votersunite.org/news.asp2, BlackBoxVoting.org, Verifiedvoting.org, Bradblog.com,electiondefenseAlliance.org 4. POOR ELECTION MANAGEMENT Badplanningoradministrationofelectionsbypublicofficialscancausenumerousproblemsforvoters.Aconfusingballotdesign,shortageofballots,inequitableallocationofvotingmachines,toofew orflusteredpollworkers,andlonglinesatpollingplaceswereproblemsinmanystatesduringthe 2008primaryseasonthatresultedfrompoormanagement.Problemsinthisareadisenfranchisevotersandunderminepublicconfidence. Solution:electionofficialsneedtohaveadequatebudgetsforequipmentandtraining,including poll workers. they need to review forecasts of voter turnout for allocating voting machinesandassigningelectiondaystaff,andtheyneedtocultivateacollaborativerelationshipwithvotingactivistswhocanassistwhenproblemsarise.thebestsolutiontoa nationalshortageofpollworkersandtraininginelectionsthatincreasinglyarecomputerized istoencouragehighschoolandcollegestudentstobecomepollwatchers,withschoolcredit offeredforthetrainingandparticipation. Obama’s position: obamaco-sponsoreds.80,theCounteveryVoteAct. McCain’s position:McCainvotedfortheHelpAmericaVoteActof2002,whichgavestates severalbilliondollarstobuypaperlesselectronicmachines.themachineshavebeendiscoveredtohaveaccuracyandsecurityissues,andtheycomplicatetrainingofpollworkersand thwartrecounts. Learn more: BrennanCenter.org,CommonCause.org8,electionLine.org 5. PUBLIC ACCESS TO ELECTRONIC ELECTION RECORDS 2      8  http:/ /votersunite.org/news.asp http:/ /blackboxvoting.org/ http:/ /verifiedvoting.org/ http:/ /www.bradblog.com/ http:/ /electiondefensealliance.org/ http:/ /www.brennancenter.org/ http:/ /www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNKMQiwG&b=8 http:/ /www.pewcenteronthestates.org/initiatives_detail.aspx?initiativeid=0  ProgressiveVoterGuidetodemocracyandelections Asthecountryusesamixofpaperlessandpaper-basedvotingsystems,publicrecordslawsdonot adequatelyprovideaccesstoelectronicelectionrecords,especiallyaftertheelectionandbeforevote totalsarecertified.theauditprocess,whichcheckstheaccuracyofvotecounts,cannotoccurwithoutaccesstotheserecords Solution: ActivistsinPimaCounty,Arizona,wenttocourtandwonaccesstoelectronicvote countdatabases.Publicofficialsneedtoencourageaccess,notfightwithactivists.themedianeedtoadvocateforupdatingstateandfederalopenrecordslawstoincludeelectronic information.Claimsofproprietarysoftware(madebyfirmsthatreceivedatemanagement contractsfromstates)needtoberegardedasunacceptableobstructionsofthepublic’sright toknow. Obama’s position:obamahastakennoknownpositionontheissue. McCain’s position: McCainhastakennoknownpositionontheissue. Learn more:AuditAZ.org20,VoterAction.org2,VotetrustusA.org22 6. NONPARTISAN OVERSIGHT OF ELECTIONS too many top state election officials and their local counterparts are involved in partisan political campaigns while running the machinery of voting and issuing rules that affect ballot access, poll staffingandvotecounts.thisconflictofinterestunderminespublictrustandcreatesthepotentialfor tiltingtheprocesstooneparty’sadvantage. Solution: stateelectionofficialsshouldbepressuredbythemediaandvotingrightsactivists topledgenottoco-chairanycandidate’scampaignwhileoverseeingelections. Obama’s position:obamahastakennoknownpositionontheissue,buthespeaksofpoliticalethicsreformstoeliminateconflictsofinterestingoverning. McCain’s position: McCainhastakennoknownpositionontheissue,buthespeaksofpoliticalethicsreformstoeliminateconflictsofinterestingoverning. Learn more:Votersunite.org/news.asp2,BradBlog.com2 7. PRIVATIZATION OF ELECTIONS thevotingprocessisbecomingmoreandmoresecretiveandremovedfromthepublic.themachineryofelections,fromupdatingvoterrollstomaintainingthevotingmachinestoWebsitehostingof 20 2 22 2 2 http:/ /auditaz.org/ http:/ /voteraction.org/ http:/ /votetrustusa.org/ http:/ /votersunite.org/news.asp http:/ /bradblog.com/  ProgressiveVoterGuidetodemocracyandelections thereturnsonelectionNight,increasinglyisbeingoutsourcedtotheprivatesectorinsteadofremaininginpublic-sectorhands.Notonlyareprivate-sectorfirmspronetomakingerrorswithpublicdata, suchaslistingpeopleonvoterrolls,butthereisnotransparencyoftheirhandingofthisfundamental democraticfunction,thevote. Solution:stateandcountygovernmentsshouldpayforthemanagementandmaintenance ofelectionsystemsandrecordsbypublicsectoremployees.thiswouldincludeusingopensourcesoftwareforvotingmachines,hostingelectiondatabasesongovernmentoruniversityservers,andpostingresultsonWebsitesmaintainedbythepublicsectorandsubjectto openrecordslaws. Obama’s position:obamahastakennoknownpositionontheissue. McCain’s position:McCainhastakennoknownpositiononthisissue. Learn more: VoterAction.org2,electiondefenseAlliance.org2,Votersunite.org/news.asp2 8. PUBLIC TRUST IN ELECTIONS thepublichasbecomeincreasinglyskepticalabouttheaccuracyofelectionssinceFlorida’sbotched presidentialelectionin2000andtheremediesimplementedsincethen,namelyreplacingoldervotingmachineswithpaperlesstechnology.unlessthepubliccantrustandaccepttheresultsofthe votecountprocess,thegovernmentwillbeplaguedbyquestionsoflegitimacyandwillnothavethe public’ssupportinnationalcrises. Solution:electionofficialsmusterronthesideofaccommodatingpublicconcerns,whether theissueisregisteringasmanynewvotersaspossibleoropeningupthevotercountprocess.themediamustbeeducatedintoanewparadigmofadvocatingforaccurateresults ratherthanbeingthefastestwiththe“winners”onelectionNight. Obama’s position: obama co-sponsored s. 80, the Count every Vote Act, which would improvevotecountaudits.HetoldWhytuesday.orgthatrestrainingtheimpactofspecial interestsandlobbyistsiskeytorestoringpublictrust.Hispresidentialcampaignisnotacceptingdonationsfrompoliticalactioncommitteesorlobbyists,butitistakingfundsfrom numerouspoliticalinsiders.obamaalsobrokewithpastpledgesbyrejectingpresidential publicfinancing,whichpromptedcriticismfromprogressivesandothersconcernedabout politicalreform. McCain’s position: McCain shepherded the Bipartisan Campaign reform Act of 2002, whichlimitedsomecampaigndonationsinfederalcampaigns.HetoldWhytuesday.orgthat “negativecampaigns”turnoffvotersthemost;however,manypoliticalobservershavesaid forseveralweeksthatMcCain’scampaignhasbroughtpoliticalattacksandfalseclaimstoa 2 2 2 http:/ /voteraction.org/ http:/ /electiondefensealliance.org/ http:/ /votersunite.org/news.asp  ProgressiveVoterGuidetodemocracyandelections newlow.McCain’scampaignstaffalsohasmanylobbyists,despitehisoft-repeatedclaims thathe willclean up Washington politics.Hehasnottakenpositionsonthemostrecent electionintegrityconcernslikee-voting. Learn more:  Votersunite.org/news.asp28, electionLawBlog.org2, PubliCampaign.org0, opensecrets.org 9. NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR ELECTIONS AND VOTING thelackofuniform,nationalstandards--fromtheconstitutionalrighttovotebyindividuals,tovoter registrationrequirements,toelectionmachinery,tovotecountandauditstandards--meansthatthe countryisdividedintothousandsofseparateandunequalelectionjurisdictions. Solution: Federal legislation, while very difficult to achieve, is the only solution short of adoptingaconstitutionalamendmentguaranteeingtheindividualrighttovote. Obama’s position:obamaco-sponsoreds.80,theCounteveryVoteAct. McCain’s position:McCainhastakennoknownpositionontheissue. Learn more: Votersunite.org/news.asp2,electionLine.org,CommonCause.org 10. PRIVATE MONEY IN POLITICS Moneywillalwaysinfluencecandidates,theelectionprocess,lobbyingandgoverning.thechallenge iscreatingabalancebetweentheinterestsofthefewandtheinterestsofthemany. Solution:Publicfinancingofcandidatesisthebestsolutiontoopenuptherangeofcandidatesinlower-costraces.inmoreexpensivecontests,thesolutionlieswithpressuringthe massmediatoofferfreeairtimetoarangeofcandidates,byallowinglocalaffiliatestopreemptsomenationalpoliticalprogramming.thesesolutionsaredesignedtoraisethefloor foraccessintothepoliticalprocessratherthantotrytochangetheentiresystem. Obama’s position:obamasupportedpublicfinancingcampaignreformbefore2008andin theprimaryseason,butheoptedoutofthepresidentialpublicfinancingoptionforthe2008 generalelection. McCain’s position: McCain does not support public financing campaign reform. He told 28 2 0  2   http:/ /votersunite.org/news.asp http:/ /electionlawblog.org/ http:/ /www.publicampaign.org/ http:/ /www.opensecrets.org/ http:/ /votersunite.org/news.asp http:/ /www.pewcenteronthestates.org/initiatives_detail.aspx?initiativeid=0 http:/ /www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNKMQiwG&b=8  ProgressiveVoterGuidetodemocracyandelections Whytuesday.orgthathewouldnotsupportextendingArizona’sstatepublicfinancingprogramtofederalelections.instead,hesupportsmoreincrementalregulationofvarioustypes ofcampaigndonations. Learn more: PubliCampaign.org,CommonCause.org     http:/ /www.publicampaign.org/ http:/ /www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNKMQiwG&b=8