Not big news, really, as people have been fighting since 2004 to fix the problem with electronic voting machines (and you thought hanging chads were a nightmare!); it's just Dean talking at the 3rd Annual DemocracyFest at San Diego State University. Here's what makes it news:
The Democratic National Committee's Voting Rights Institute has now called for a complete hand count of all 150,000 ballots cast in California's 50th Congressional District. The DNC has joined with numerous citizens' and activist groups that have declared "no confidence" in machine-counted results of the hotly contested June election to replace convicted former Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham.
According to the machine count, Republican Brian Bilbray narrowly beat Democrat Francine Busby in the first Congressional race of 2006. Bilbray has been sworn in to fill the seat (unless a hand count or legal challenge should alter the outcome) until November, when the term expires and Busby-Bilbray will face off in yet another election contest.
CA-50, a citizens' group of election reform advocates, held a press conference outside the gates of San Diego State University's open air theater shortly before Dean's speech. Local citizens were joined by national representatives, including Progressive Democrats of America president Mimi Kennedy and Brad Friedman, founder of Bradblog.com and cofounder of Velvet Revolution, a national election reform movement.
"We are all thrilled and delighted by the DNC's call for a hand-count," said Friedman. "San Diego is now ground zero for federal integrity in elections," he said, noting that Progressive Democrats of America (PDA), Democracy for America (DFA), and the California Election Protection Network (CEPN) have all "joined in this cry with citizen patriots in calling for a full hand count of all 150,000 ballots in the Busby-Bilbray race."
Friedman called on the DNC to provide funding for the hand count. "We need help now," he implored.
If you want to donate to the recount cause (because it'll take a lot of money), you have either NOsleepovers or VelvetRevolution to choose from.
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