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"Secure Elections Act" Coming Up For Vote
Irvu writes "The US House of Representatives is considering HR. 5036, the 'Emergency Assistance for Secure Elections Act of 2008,' as introduced by Representative Rush Holt. The bill is scheduled for a floor vote later today. It would provide for emergency paper ballots, money for the addition of voter verifiable paper ballots to existing systems, and post-election audits. Crucially, the change to paper is opt-in, making it possible for local jurisdictions to govern their own choices. Here are two summaries of the bill. It was reported out of committee with strong bipartisan support. As of this morning the White house has opposed the bill but not threatened a veto, and some previously supportive Republicans have now changed their tune. Calls may be made to your house rep (click on 'Find your representative'). Here's a sample support letter."
It is pointless to consider "paper" ballots in any real way. Any election that takes longer than about 12 hours is going to be "called on account of time" by the news services. They will announce a winner, based on exit polling, other polling, the way the wind is blowing and the entrails of a calf. But by God they are going to release the name of the winner before everyone goes to bed.
Look at 2000 - Gore was announced as the winner by CBS. Then, later, that announcement was retracted but there are people that believe today that Gore won the election fair and square. Too bad they couldn't reproduced the winning after two months of selective recounts and rule changes. Can the US survive another announced winner later proven to be false? I don't think so.
If the news services can't be silenced, we cannot rely on recounts or anything else that takes days to count properly. The authoritative answer has to be presented the evening of the election, probably by midnight Eastern Time or there will be all hell to pay. And by "authoritative" I do not be absolutely correct, just accepted by the majority of the population. This is what we had until 2000. It is something we will never have again if the news services preempt the process and announce a winner in advance of ballot counting again.