Is America Ready to Vote

An historic election will take place on November 4th with millions of new American voters confronting an array of voting technologies and elections procedures. There is major national concern about election fairness and assuring that all eligible voters are allowed to vote and that those votes are counted. Are voting precincts ready for the big vote? Will the historic 2008 election be transparent and fair?

Common Cause has launched a massive effort to protect the vote for eligible and registered voters and to assure that votes are counted. Based on the findings of a recent report called "Voting in 2008: 10 Swing States," Common Cause is focusing on seven swing states (Colorado, Florida, Indiana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania) to protect the election, and targeting election protection work in New York and California as well.

The primary elections earlier this year have seen voting system problems. In Ohio�s March primary, votes in at least 11 counties were "dropped" due to a software flaw. A recent report released by Common Cause, the Brennan Center for Justice and Verify the Vote, is entitled "Is America Ready to Vote? State Preparations for Voting Machine Problems in 2008." The report evaluates each state�s preparedness for voting machine problems by four criteria: procedures for issuing emergency paper ballots, reconciling ballot tallies, providing paper records of votes cast, and post-election audits.

The 50-state report found that:
• Of the twenty-four states that use voting machines, eight states, including Colorado and Virginia, have no guidance or requirement to stock emergency paper ballots at the polls. In contrast, twelve states, including Ohio and North Carolina, recommend emergency paper ballots to be given to voters if machine failures are causing long lines.
• While all states do some form of ballot accounting and reconciliation, the 50-state report card finds that the requirements in ten states (Alabama, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, New Jersey, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia) fall far short of best practices � meaning there are insufficient provisions to make sure that every vote is counted, and only once.

Being sure that poll workers are properly trained, voter registrations are properly processed, registered voters get to vote and that their vote will be counted accurately are all essential to a fair and transparent election. If voters make the effort to register and vote, their vote should be counted accurately. The many different voting systems and procedures increase the opportunity for error. Our voting precincts must be prepared to uphold the integrity of the elections process.

What steps can voting precincts take to be sure they are ready for the vote? Are states prepared voting machine problems? Will all registered voters be allowed to vote in the 2008 election? What are some ways your state and local precinct can be better prepared for the big vote?