Progressive Springfield

"Progressive Democrats of Illinois have taken much initiative already: We have secured permits to rally outside the capital building on Sunday at 12pm. We have podium, table for petitions, microphone & amplifer, speakers, and are working to secure keynote speakers. We will be distributing materials to make signs at our meeting Thursday Dec 9 at 7pm at the IHOP in Wheaton, IL. The meeting is open to the public and we welcome newcomers. We will also be arranging carpools to Springfield at the meeting. Please contact info@illinoisprogressives.org for more info" -Andrew Chusid
 

This rally is not just about recounting votes in Illinois. It is about demanding of our Eletoral College to suspend their vote until every vote across the country has been counted. It is about demanding that our state and federal elected officials return integrity to the voting booth, investigate fraud, and bring justice to those who have tampered with this election. As far as Illinois goes, this state has a long history of political corruption. Would you put it past this state to commit voter fraud or disenfranchisement. Republican or Dempcrat, without truth invoting we have no democracy.
 

Consider this as the only chance you are likely to get to make a public statement about voting reform. There is a serious possibility that the man who takes the presidential oath of office next Janurary will not be the candidate with the most popular or electorial votes...

Consider this: 80% of the votes in US elections are counted by Diebold and ES&S, computer companies started by Bob & Todd Urosevich, two Ukranian brothers, funded by extreme right wingers William & Robert Ahmanson. Diebold's current CEO Walden “Wally” O’Dell is on record stating that he is “committed to helping Ohio deliver its electoral votes to the President” this year. On September 26, 2003, he hosted an Ohio Republican Party fundraiser for Bush’s re-election at his Cotswold Manor mansion. Tickets to the fundraiser cost $1000 per couple, but O’Dell’s fundraising letter urged those attending to “Donate or raise $10,000 for the Ohio Republican Party.”

Diebold, Electronic Voting and the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy
by Bob Fitrakis
http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0225-05.htm
 

80% sounds a bit high to me, but I concur that that is a MAJOR issue which needs to be addressed, specifically with regards to electronic balloting without a paper trail (as I mentioned in my letter to the Illinois Times http://www.illinoistimes.com/gbase/Gyrosite/Content?oid=oid%3A3739).

On the other hand, I don't know that performing hand counts for every election is a feasible option.

I don't know how much (if any) computer balloting was done here in Illinois. I know I punched out chads here in Springfield.