Voting Systems Lawsuit Reaches U.S. Supreme Court

[Angry Girl]

This is a few days old but I thought it was important enough to post again because I'm not sure it got a lot of exposure. For more details and other articles by Landes, go to Lynn Landes Investigates at http://www.ecotalk.org.

Voting Systems Lawsuit Reaches U.S. Supreme Court

Washington DC, Jan 30 / PR Newswire (link) - A little-noticed voting rights lawsuit has made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court (Docket No. 05-930). It constitutes the first legal challenge to the widespread use of nontransparent voting systems. Specifically, the lawsuit challenges the use of voting machines and absentee voting in elections for public office.

The lawsuit was originally filed by freelance journalist Lynn Landes in July of 2004 in Philadelphia federal court (U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania). The Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Landes on November 2, 2005.

In her lawsuit Landes claims that, as a voter and a journalist, she has the right to direct access to a physical ballot and to observe the voting process unimpeded. Voting by machine or absentee, Landes claims, introduces obstacles and concealment to a process that must be accessible and transparent in a meaningful and effective manner.
<SNIP>
"I tried to get civil rights organizations interested in this case, but had no luck. Their disregard for this issue is incredible. It's clear to me that without direct access to a physical ballot and meaningful transparency in the process, our elections have no integrity whatsoever," says Landes.

Continued...
http://www.ecotalk.org/Lawsuit.htm

[annabanana]

1. I wonder why the ACLU isn't involved..

If the case is seriously flawed, why would the Supremes agree to see it? If it's not, why would dthe ACLU ignore it? Does anyone have more info on this?

[Skink]

2. This could set bad precedent...

Especially if Scalito gets to vote.

[MelissaB]

6. I'm wondering the same thing. Check this out:

...snip

Landes is representing herself in this action.

"I tried to get civil rights organizations interested in this case, but had no luck. Their disregard for this issue is incredible. It's clear to me that without direct access to a physical ballot and meaningful transparency in the process, our elections have no integrity whatsoever," says Landes.


:kick:

[Amaryllis]

8. She is a little over the top in that she doens't believe there should be

ANY absentee ballots. So military and out of state or country voters would just not get to vote. I wish she hadn't put the part about no absentee ballots in the suit.

[Lasher]

25. Absentee voting needs adequate safeguards

I was in the Army in Seoul, Korea in 1970. I requested an absentee ballot from my county officials back home, so that I could vote that year. They replied, via snail mail (the internet wasn't invented yet), that I needed to get my company commander's signature on my request. I did that, and re-submitted my application. I never heard from them again. Wonder who I voted for?

My point is, there is a lot of room for abuse with absentee voting. I'm not in favor of elimination of absentee voting - in fact, I believe all voters should have the option. But I'm just saying, we need to make sure adequate safeguards are in place.

[ray of light]

17. this person seems to get it and is

trying to outreach to college students.

http://www.progressiveu.org/103805-state-of-the-union-one-party-state

[Wilms]

23. I couldn't get anywhere with that link.

Any ideas. :shrug:

[diva77]

31. aclu was responsible for teaming up with disabled to purge

punchcards and replace them with DRE's ; they included Florida, Ohio, and California in their list of states to win lawsuits...google Daniel Tokaji

I will post link for suits later

[FogerRox]

33. Been away since DC- My experience with the ACLU

We hosted a voting machine demo in our county, A ALCU lawyer that one of us knew, came, in his wheelchair showed up. We never heard from the ACLU again.

In NJ- I worked part time for Senator Corzine, who was running for Gov. I know The Governors Daughter for 2 years, from her Tea shop in town. COuld'nt get 10 minutes of face with an Aide. Acting Gov. Codey-- we did get in- for an hour.

I think the only friends you make are the ones you earn-- and start with the local election & Elected officials

[iamthebandfanman]

3. what great timing!

it finally reaches it after the supreme court has changed dramatically

go figure.

[kster]

4. Kick-n-Recommended...nt

[annabanana]

5. We need to keep this kicked for the lawyers

and Constitutional Scholars among us!!

[ray of light]

20. They don't have an election reform forum any more?

Hey Skinner, elections are coming...Can we have that forum back so that people don't have to keep kicking?

[shance]

7. Lynn Landes has been such a quiet and consistent patriot.

I have such respect and admiration for all she's done and continues to do.

She is a bonafied truthseeker.

[stepnw1f]

9. kick! (nt)

[liam_laddie]

10. Docket means...

My understanding from recent reading of several threads on this and other
websites is that the docket list is simply a list of potential cases, which the
SCOTUS may or may not choose to hear. Thus, if this is correct, and I believe
I heard Lynn say this in a radio interview this week, it means the case will
be considered for hearing; it's not a done deal that they WILL hear it.
Could be mistaken, legal scholars please clarify?

[youngblue]

16. You're right. She just filed a Writ asking the Supreme Court

to take the case. They take lless than 1% of the cases that people ask them to take so there's no guarantee that they will ever hear this case.

Also, she says that the other side has to respond by a certain date. They can just simply file a waiver that says they waive their right to respond. People usually do that if they think there's very little chance of the court being interested in the case.

It's good that the case is in this posture but there's no guarantees at this point at all that the case will be briefed and argued. And since she doesn't have a lawyer briefing it, it becomes very difficult to get them to show any interest in those types of pro se cases.

[Free the Press]

11. The SCOTUS can differentiate. Absentee ballots are physically verifiable.

Electronic voting and tabulating, thus far, is not.

[sam sarrha]

12. im taking bets it wont be any different than the vote that made him KING

[ecoalex]

13. No absentee voting? this is bullshit

Oregon votes 100% by mail. The system works well, not many complaints.Trying to impede voting it looks like to me.

[EFerrari]

14. Kick

I wonder if one could call the Philly ACLU and simply ask them if they were approaced?

[ray of light]

15. thanks!

[radio4progressives]

18. Neither the Democratic Party, or the ACLU, or the NLG . Collusion?

what other conclusion can anyone with a modicum of common sense draw?

2000 stolen elections, basically silence from the DP, 2002 stolen elections more silence from the DP, and then 2004 HUGE SILENCE from the DP, to the point of censorship on the topic, and no effort to get to the bottom of this.

And why would Dems think that they're somehow going to magically win in 2006 and 2008 with all the evidence to date of election fraud?

apparently, there must be some reason to think they can guarantee it.

I guess? what other reason could there be?

they haven't been an opposition party by any definition of the word, in fact they're pandering to the christo-fascists, corporations & the neo con empire agenda - so what gives?

[EVDebs]

19. Hmmmm. We could ALL 'vote by mail' as in OR and then do a

mandatory voting law as in Australia. The Dems (and any other party) would know exactly the total membership in the party(s) and be able to cross verify in that way, with back up of 'exit polling' or a head count in-house. Any discrepancies would be immediately noticed.

Is this possible ?

[ray of light]

21. kick

[ecoalex]

22. Yes it appears the DLC is running from any voting reforms

In Ca. a public financed election scheme is growing from the nurses that beat Ahnuld's ass badly.

You go Nurses !

[Wilms]

24. kick

[stickdog]

26. Save us, Scalito! (nt)

[rucky]

27. I don't know about the absentee voting arguement.

Oregon votes 100% by mail and it works really well. All it does is make voting more accessable, which is a good thing.

I hope this doesn't muddy the waters so much that they toss out the entire case, though.

[PVK]

34. The difference is that OR is 100% absentee. Hard to "lose" 100% of votes.

Easy to "lose" the percent needed to "win"?

[Wordie]

28. K&R...I don't know about the absentee part of this suit, but it is

crucial that the voting issues are resolved ASAP. I hope this suit will help.

[starmaker]

29. kick for Lynn

[Kurovski]

30. Kick.

Too late to vote to recommend, but I would if I could.

[Kurovski]

32. Kick.(nt)

[Rainscents]

35. Kick!

:kick:

[Kurovski]

36. Kick(nt)

[Kurovski]

37. Kick(nt)