www.WeThePatriots.org

Request by Voters for Amendments to Holt Bill

Distinctions between current Holt Bill and the Request by Voters (RBV):

HOLT: Technology standards
RBV: Democracy standards

HOLT: Voter VERIFIED paper ballots
RBV: Voter MARKED paper ballots

HOLT: Allow erroneous counts and audit the system

RBV: Get the count right on election night

HOLT: Industry and government-appointed oversight
RBV: Includes citizen oversight (Freedom of Access to Elections Information)

The Holt Bill, as it is currently structured, allows for the wrong people to be placed into office because auditing does not change false election results; it only points to flaws in the system.

Field studies have shown that Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) voting machines can record a vote differently than the “paper trail” receipt display of the vote.  DRE audits may enable verifiable elections but not necessarily election integrity. Audits may lead to recounts and extended litigation. As CA-50 has shown us, Congressional candidates may be seated even while the legal wrangling is ongoing.

The U.S. Constitution does not have structural allowances for ongoing electoral disputes. We must seat our government in a timely manner. For this reason, we must get the count right on Election Night and not depend on audits.

It really is very simple. There are two competing products: Democracy and Industry. Your constituents expect you to choose Democracy.

The Request by Voters is a letter to Congress asking to amend the bill formerly known as "H.R. 550" (the "Holt Bill") to provide crucial checks and balances in our elections.

The letter in its entirety can be viewed here: http://www.wethepatriots.org

THREE REMEDIES

(1) Voter marked paper ballots and hand-counted paper ballot disaster recovery plan for all computerized voting jurisdictions. (2) Freedom of access to election information, ballots, and records in a timely fashion to all interested citizens prior to certification of elections. (3) Restructure the Election Assistance Commission to a 50-state representational body of election officials and citizens.

TWO RECOMMENDATIONS
(1) Comprehensive GAO Accountability Study and analysis of best practices for election administration and post-HAVA election equipment, appropriations, and results. (2) Congressional Committee to study the election crisis and hold public hearings.