[nfb-talk] Fw: Great News!!! - PRESS RELEASE -

Wed May 9 15:36:18 CDT 2007

Dear Steve,

Thank you,
We could use the help here.
If you have any info about the auto Mark, and can send it, I would 
appreciate it.
I am going to have to work on getting the machine certified in the state. 
That is going to take some time and some arm twisting.

David Evans, NFBF

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Jacobson" <steve.jacobson at visi.com>
To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2007 2:33 PM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Fw: Great News!!! - PRESS RELEASE -

> David,
>
> Since we have already been down this road here in Minnesota, let me know 
> if there is any information that might be of help.  One thing that was 
> done here was to
> have each county buy a certain number of extra machines for backup 
> purposes.  Also, we have many polling places with multiple precincts, and 
> the Automark can
> handle multiple ballots so that reduced the number required.  However, 
> that doesn't make the challenge that much smaller.  Good luck as you take 
> this on.
>
> On Wed, 9 May 2007 14:22:30 -0500, David Evans wrote:
>
>
>>Dear Steve,
>
>>I took no offense at what you said and I did not mean by response to sound
>>like I was snapping at you.
>
>>I have no problem with having a paper trail, I just don't want us to lose
>>our access to the secret ballot in the process.
>>As I see it, the problem is getting machines that can mark an optically
>>scanned ballot certified in all of the states where there is a paper trail
>>mandated.
>
>>Even once we do get them certified, just having one per precinct is still
>>going to be a pain.  If it breaks or doesn't work, getting it fixed or
>>serviced may become a question of funding over time and a dodge for not
>>providing the access.
>
>>David Evans, NFBF
>>----- Original Message ----- 
>>From: "Steve Jacobson" <steve.jacobson at visi.com>
>>To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>Sent: Tuesday, May 08, 2007 9:53 PM
>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Fw: Great News!!! - PRESS RELEASE -
>
>
>>> Sorry I apparently ruffled your feathers.  I was pretty certain you were
>>> involved in voter issues, but it sounded to me as
>>> though you didn't think there was a very accessible alternative for 
>>> paper
>>> ballots.  I do understand that it will be a royal
>>> pain and that a bunch of money will be spent because the laws changed.
>>> That is frustrating.
>>>
>>> On Tue, 8 May 2007 13:00:56 -0500, David Evans wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Dear Steve,
>>>
>>>>I am well aware of what HAVA provides for.
>>>>I served an appointment to the Governor's Select Task Force on Voting
>>>>Access
>>>>after the 2000 elections as well as an appointment to the Florida HAVA
>>>>State
>>>>Planning Committee for 2 years.
>>>>My own county of Palm Beach has DRE's, but now , with the change in the
>>>>State Law to ensure a paper trail, all of the 67 counties are going to
>>>>have
>>>>to re-think their approach to access.
>>>>The Auto Mark or Mark Sense, which ever you call it seems to be the only
>>>>way
>>>>that we can have the access and make the ballots homogenious with the
>>>>ballots of the sighted.
>>>>Ballots printed in any other format will be noticeable different from 
>>>>each
>>>>other.
>>>>We will have the push the State and the machines manufacturers to get 
>>>>them
>>>>certified in the state for use.
>>>>Certification is the two million dollar nut that has to be cracked.
>>>>It cost that much per state to get the machines certified for use.
>>>
>>>>David Evans, NFBF
>>>>----- Original Message ----- 
>>>>From: "Steve Jacobson" <steve.jacobson at visi.com>
>>>>To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>>Sent: Friday, May 04, 2007 9:59 AM
>>>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Fw: Great News!!! - PRESS RELEASE -
>>>
>>>
>>>>> David,
>>>>>
>>>>> What is the "Mark Sense" voting machine?  We used the "AutoMark" 
>>>>> machine
>>>>> here in Minnesota to mark paper ballots and it worked reasonably well.
>>>>> It
>>>>> can also
>>>>> be used by blind and sighted voters who wish to do so.  I believe we 
>>>>> are
>>>>> going to see shifts like this in a number of states, and I think we 
>>>>> need
>>>>> to be careful not to
>>>>> get caught up in the paper versus paperless debate.  If states decide 
>>>>> to
>>>>> switch, we don't want to be left out, but there will likely be some
>>>>> bumps
>>>>> in the road, and
>>>>> we're going to have to gauge the intentions of states to some degree.
>>>>> For
>>>>> example, if we are the only group to use a voting machine that does 
>>>>> not
>>>>> use a paper
>>>>> ballot, that will also compromise our secret ballot even though it 
>>>>> might
>>>>> be accessible.  We could end up fighting for and spending money on
>>>>> something that is not all
>>>>> that meaningful.  On the other hand, if a state demonstrates a 
>>>>> complete
>>>>> unwillingness to deal with accessible voting, we can't let that stand.
>>>>> Also remember that
>>>>> HAVA doesn't govern state and local elections.  They may be effected 
>>>>> by
>>>>> separate laws and each state may differ.
>>>>>
>>>>> Best regards,
>>>>>
>>>>> Steve Jacobson
>>>>>
>>>>> On Fri, 4 May 2007 09:30:33 -0500, David Evans wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>Dear All,
>>>>>
>>>>>>This is both great , but also dangerous for the Blind.
>>>>>>We must now push for the "Mark Sense" voting machine system to be
>>>>>>certified
>>>>>>for use in the State of Florida as it is the only known system capable
>>>>>>of
>>>>>>being used in marking paper ballots that both the sighted and the 
>>>>>>Blind
>>>>>>can
>>>>>>use.
>>>>>>This means that all DRE , touch screen machines, that are now 
>>>>>>accessible
>>>>>>to
>>>>>>the Blind, will be banned and phased out for use in voting.
>>>>>>The Mark Sense machine is not currently certified by our State and it
>>>>>>will
>>>>>>take effort to get it certified by next year.
>>>>>>I do not plan to be disenfranchised by the Florida State Legislature 
>>>>>>and
>>>>>>lose my access to the secret ballot.
>>>>>>I will sue the State if I have to to preserve my constitutional right
>>>>>>to
>>>>>>that secret ballot.
>>>>>>We have been the last group to get it and now that I have had it, I
>>>>>>don't
>>>>>>plan on giving it up.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>David Evans, NFBF
>>>>>>----- Original Message ----- 
>>>>>>From: "Sherri" <flmom2006 at gmail.com>
>>>>>>To: <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>; <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>>Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 10:42 PM
>>>>>>Subject: [nfb-talk] Fw: Great News!!! - PRESS RELEASE -
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>This is interesting. I hope we don't get left behind.
>>>>>
>>>>>>Sherri
>>>>>>----- Original Message ----- 
>>>>>>From: "alan dicey" <adicey at bellsouth.net>
>>>>>>To: <Undisclosed-Recipient:;>
>>>>>>Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 10:57 PM
>>>>>>Subject: Great News!!! - PRESS RELEASE -
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>PRESS RELEASE
>>>>>
>>>>>>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 3 May 2007
>>>>>
>>>>>>Contact:
>>>>>
>>>>>>Susan Pynchon, Cell: 386-804-3131
>>>>>
>>>>>>Pamela Haengel, Cell: 727-244-9064
>>>>>
>>>>>>Kindra Muntz, Cell: 941-266-8278
>>>>>
>>>>>>Dan McCrea, Cell: 305-984-2900
>>>>>
>>>>>>FLORIDA MOVES to paper ballots!
>>>>>
>>>>>>Florida Voters Coalition congratulates governor crist and the florida
>>>>>>legislature for ending PAPERLESS voting.
>>>>>
>>>>>>TALLAHASSEE: In a historic vote, the Florida House today unanimously
>>>>>>passed
>>>>>>CS/HB 537, already passed in the Senate, that provides almost all 
>>>>>>voters
>>>>>>paper
>>>>>>ballots in time for the 2008 Presidential election, and bans paperless
>>>>>>DREs
>>>>>>outright by 2012. The bill now goes to the Governor where he's sure to
>>>>>>sign
>>>>>>it since it's his initiative.
>>>>>
>>>>>>Counties will have the option to pitch DREs immediately and provide
>>>>>>ballot
>>>>>>marking devices for voters with disabilities. "FVC urges all 67 
>>>>>>counties
>>>>>>to
>>>>>>convert
>>>>>>to uniform paper ballot systems without delay and leave no voter 
>>>>>>behind
>>>>>>voting on failed electronic voting machines," said FVC Co-Founder, Dan
>>>>>>McCrea.
>>>>>
>>>>>>The bill is funded with $27.9 million in HAVA funds and there's plenty
>>>>>>more
>>>>>>money in that account should more be needed next year. Counties will 
>>>>>>get
>>>>>>help
>>>>>>from the state to purchase optical scan equipment to count the paper
>>>>>>ballots; ballot-on-demand equipment to ease paper congestion problems 
>>>>>>in
>>>>>>Early Voting;
>>>>>>and ballot marking devices to serve the disabled.
>>>>>
>>>>>>While there was talk earlier in the legislative session about
>>>>>>retrofitting
>>>>>>printers to failed touchscreen DREs, that talk faded as legislators 
>>>>>>saw
>>>>>>it
>>>>>>would
>>>>>>be throwing good money after bad. Additionally, they are sure to have
>>>>>>understood that currently available "VVPAT" printers would not comply
>>>>>>with
>>>>>>proposed
>>>>>>federal legislation which, if passed, will supersede Florida law.
>>>>>>(Federal
>>>>>>bill HR 811, sponsored by Rep. Rush Holt, currently has 212 
>>>>>>bi-partisan
>>>>>>co-sponsors
>>>>>>in Congress.)
>>>>>
>>>>>>The Florida bill also contains new audit provisions essential to the
>>>>>>security of paper ballot voting systems. There was agreement among
>>>>>>legislators that
>>>>>>the new audit provisions will need further tweaking next year before
>>>>>>becoming effective in July 2008. For now, the language requires that
>>>>>>after
>>>>>>every election,
>>>>>>at least 1% and not more than 2% of randomly selected precincts be
>>>>>>audited
>>>>>>by hand-counting the paper ballots in one randomly selected race. The
>>>>>>audit
>>>>>>will take place after certification and be reported 3 days before the
>>>>>>contest period ends.
>>>>>
>>>>>>"FVC supports 'statistically significant' audits that would yield a 
>>>>>>far
>>>>>>greater confidence level in election results and should be reported
>>>>>>before
>>>>>>certification.
>>>>>>FVC will be working with state and local election officials in the
>>>>>>coming
>>>>>>year to strengthen Florida audit language," said another FVC 
>>>>>>Co-Founder,
>>>>>>Kindra
>>>>>>Muntz, who led the successful charter amendment campaign in Sarasota
>>>>>>County
>>>>>>that requires both voter verified paper ballots and mandatory random
>>>>>>audits
>>>>>>in all elections.
>>>>>
>>>>>>"We thank Governor Crist and the Florida Legislature for their vision
>>>>>>and
>>>>>>diligence in improving Florida voting systems," said FVC Co-Founder,
>>>>>>Susan
>>>>>>Pynchon,
>>>>>>"and for working together in a bi-partisan, bicameral effort. The eyes
>>>>>>of
>>>>>>the nation have been and still are on Florida elections - and Florida
>>>>>>finally
>>>>>>got it right! We can now say Florida is leading the nation in election
>>>>>>reform."
>>>>>
>>>>>>In addition to the Governor and the Legislature deserving praise, FVC
>>>>>>thanks
>>>>>>the two dozen co-signers to our 2007 Position Paper on Voting Systems,
>>>>>>who
>>>>>>are listed below, and who worked very hard together at local, state, 
>>>>>>and
>>>>>>national levels on many different aspects of advocating for this
>>>>>>legislation.
>>>>>>Thanks to Senator Bill Nelson and other members of Congress who also
>>>>>>helped
>>>>>>at the national level. We also thank the Florida League of Woman 
>>>>>>Voters
>>>>>>and
>>>>>>the Florida Council of the Blind for their vital assistance.  Special
>>>>>>thanks
>>>>>>to Warren Stewart, Policy Director for VoteTrustUSA; Ion Sancho, Leon
>>>>>>County
>>>>>>Supervisor of Elections; Howard Simon, Executive Director of ACLU of
>>>>>>Florida; and Pamela Smith, President of Verified Voting for their
>>>>>>invaluable
>>>>>>contributions
>>>>>>to this effort.  Additional thanks go to Sam Bell, Doug Bell and 
>>>>>>Rebecca
>>>>>>Sager for their extensive assistance on the ground in Tallahassee. And
>>>>>>finally,
>>>>>>FVC thanks the thousands of volunteers and citizens who cared enough
>>>>>>about
>>>>>>Florida's elections to help rally support, send messages to the 
>>>>>>Governor
>>>>>>and
>>>>>>Legislature, talk to the media, and make their voices heard. "This was 
>>>>>>a
>>>>>>good day for democracy," said FVC Co-Founder Pamela Haengel.
>>>>>
>>>>>>National Organizations - Alphabetical by Organization
>>>>>
>>>>>>List of 6 items
>>>>>>. Ralph Miller, Executive Director,
>>>>>>Latinos for America
>>>>>>. Megan Matson, Director,
>>>>>>Mainstreet Moms
>>>>>>. Pamela Smith, President,
>>>>>>VerifiedVoting.org
>>>>>>. Dan McCrea, Florida State Director,
>>>>>>Voter Action
>>>>>>. John Gideon, Executive Director,
>>>>>>VotersUnite.org
>>>>>>. Joan Krawitz, Executive Director,
>>>>>>VoteTrustUSA
>>>>>>list end
>>>>>
>>>>>>State of Florida Organizations - Alphabetical by Organization
>>>>>
>>>>>>List of 15 items
>>>>>>. Howard Simon, Executive Director,
>>>>>> ACLU of Florida
>>>>>>. Jeannette D. Wynn, President,
>>>>>>Florida Council of the American Federation of State, County and
>>>>>>Municipal
>>>>>>Employees (AFSCME)
>>>>>>. Cynthia Hall, President,
>>>>>>Florida AFL-CIO
>>>>>>. Ellen Brodsky, Executive Director,
>>>>>>Broward Election Reform Coalition
>>>>>>(BERC)
>>>>>>. Susan Pynchon, Executive Director,
>>>>>>Florida Fair Elections Coalition
>>>>>>(FFEC)
>>>>>>. Ion Sancho, Supervisor of Elections,
>>>>>>Leon County Department of Elections
>>>>>>. Trevor Harvey, President,
>>>>>>Sarasota County Branch, NAACP
>>>>>>. Susan Van Houten, Co-Founder, Palm Beach Coalition for Election 
>>>>>>Reform
>>>>>>. Brad Ashwell,
>>>>>>Florida Public Interest Research Group
>>>>>>(PIRG)
>>>>>>. Kindra Muntz, President,
>>>>>>Sarasota Alliance for Fair Elections
>>>>>>(SAFE)
>>>>>>. Sevell C. Brown III, Florida State President,
>>>>>>Southern Christian Leadership Conference
>>>>>>. Jim Pillow, Political Coordinator -
>>>>>>Teamsters Local 385 Orlando
>>>>>>. Fred Seidl, Coordinator,
>>>>>>Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry, Florida
>>>>>>. Gene Jones,
>>>>>>Florida Veterans for Common Sense
>>>>>>. Pamela Haengel, President,
>>>>>>Voting Integrity Alliance of Tampa Bay
>>>>>>(VIA Tampa Bay)
>>>>>>list end
>>>>>
>>>>>>###
>>>>>
>>>>>>__._,_.___
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>-- 
>>>>>>No virus found in this incoming message.
>>>>>>Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>>>>>>Version: 7.5.467 / Virus Database: 269.6.2/785 - Release Date: 
>>>>>>5/2/2007
>>>>>>2:16
>>>>>>PM
>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>
>>>
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>>>
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