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Thank you for printing Fitrakis and Wasserman's article on electronic vote shenanigans. It is critical that we raise a cry about this. It is absolutely unbelieveable that the American people have accepted this.
Even more alarming is this little story I will relate to you.
I had been a contributing member of ACLU as long as I could remember - at least thirty years. So it occurred to me that the folks at ACLU might be just the people I should call about an idea I had a few months before the 2004 elections. My thought was this: challenge paperless voting machines under the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. I thought it was a good idea. I still think it's a good idea. So I called the Illinois chapter of the ACLU. Right from the start things didn't go well. "Who do you want to sue?" I was asked in a rather challenging tone. I said that I wasn't sure, that I'm not a lawyer, I'm simply a citizen who wants to challenge paperless ballots under the protections of the 14th Amendment. I said I was hoping the lawyers at ACLU would know how to frame the case. After a little telephone back-and-forth and a couple conversatiions with staff, I was told that I should take the matter up with the National chapter of ACLU.
So I started over, this time at the national offices of ACLU, and things proceeded much as they had before, the only difference being that this time I was referred back to the state chapter.
Unbelieveable. We need to challenge paperless voting, and it needs to be a constitutional challenge. I still think the 14th Amendment is the way to go. I don't know which was to turn at this point. Perhaps you folks have some ideas? It certainly isn't going to do us any good if all we do is write articles and kvetch about the death of our democracy.
As a footnote to my relationship with ACLU, this experience combined with ACLU's decision to endorse the current Hate Crimes legislation has persuaded me to withdraw my support from ACLU.
Thanks again for the article and for all your work.
Sincerely,
James F. Moore
Libertyville, IL
Even more alarming is this little story I will relate to you.
I had been a contributing member of ACLU as long as I could remember - at least thirty years. So it occurred to me that the folks at ACLU might be just the people I should call about an idea I had a few months before the 2004 elections. My thought was this: challenge paperless voting machines under the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. I thought it was a good idea. I still think it's a good idea. So I called the Illinois chapter of the ACLU. Right from the start things didn't go well. "Who do you want to sue?" I was asked in a rather challenging tone. I said that I wasn't sure, that I'm not a lawyer, I'm simply a citizen who wants to challenge paperless ballots under the protections of the 14th Amendment. I said I was hoping the lawyers at ACLU would know how to frame the case. After a little telephone back-and-forth and a couple conversatiions with staff, I was told that I should take the matter up with the National chapter of ACLU.
So I started over, this time at the national offices of ACLU, and things proceeded much as they had before, the only difference being that this time I was referred back to the state chapter.
Unbelieveable. We need to challenge paperless voting, and it needs to be a constitutional challenge. I still think the 14th Amendment is the way to go. I don't know which was to turn at this point. Perhaps you folks have some ideas? It certainly isn't going to do us any good if all we do is write articles and kvetch about the death of our democracy.
As a footnote to my relationship with ACLU, this experience combined with ACLU's decision to endorse the current Hate Crimes legislation has persuaded me to withdraw my support from ACLU.
Thanks again for the article and for all your work.
Sincerely,
James F. Moore
Libertyville, IL