SENATE RETURNS TO ELECTION REFORM NEXT WEEK Crucial Votes Expected, Your Voice Needs to be Heard

Beginning Monday, February 25th, the Senate will again debate the Dodd-McConnell election reform bill supported by the American Association of People with Disabilities. Late in the week of February 11th, the Senate began work on the bill and completed action on some amendments. But next week the crucial votes on key amendments are expected. Your voice, and the voice of other members of the disability community, needs to be heard.

This election reform bill provides funding for accessible voting machines. By 2006, there will be at least one accessible voting machine in each polling place across the country. The machine will offer a secret, independent, and verifiable ballot to all voters regardless of disability.

Please take the following actions immediately:

1. Call your Senators. All Senators need to hear from their constituents. You can reach your Senators through the Capitol Hill switchboard at 202-224-3121 or 202-225-3121.

2. E-mail or fax your Senators. Go to the Legislative Action Center of the LWVUS Web Site to e-mail your Senators directly or to find your Senators' fax numbers.

3. Lobby your Senators at home. With the Senate on recess until February 25th, your Senators may be making appearances in your state. Call their district offices to find their schedules, and then buttonhole them or ask a question at a public event.

4. Contact your grassroots network, your friends and other concerned citizens. Sent this alert to your e-mail address list with a personal note asking them to take action.

MESSAGE

1. Ask your Senators to support the HARKIN AMENDMENT on election reform. The Harkin Amendment grants funding to the local Protection and Advocacy organizations to provide technical assistance and education on access issues to the local election officials. In addition, Senator Harkin is working on a Sense of the Senate Resolution that all polling places should be accessible.

2. Ask your Senators to support the WYDEN-SCHUMER AMENDMENT. The Wyden-Schumer Amendment would allow registered voters who do not have a photo identification card or a utility bill in their name to sign a form and vote.

3. Ask your Senators to support the KENNEDY AMENDMENT. The Kennedy Amendment will assure that national election standards are met in a timely fashion.

4. Ask your Senators to vote against weakening amendments and to pass the Dodd-McConnell election reform bill.

America deserves an election system that will protect the most basic and precious right of all citizens in a democracy - the right to vote. Each citizen's right to vote, and to have that vote fairly counted, is at stake. Please contact your Senators today. Every time you contact your Senators, your voice is counted.

KEY SENATORS

Every Senator needs to hear from his or her constituents. The following Senators especially need to be lobbied to support the three amendments.

Stevens (AK)
McCain (AZ)
Feinstein (CA)
Campbell (CO)
Carper (DE)
Fitzgerald (IL)
Miller (GA)
Brownback (KS)
Breaux (LA)
Collins (ME)
Snowe (ME)
Baucus (MT)
Nelson (NE)
Domenici (NM)
Voinovich (OH)
Smith (OR)
Spector (PA)
Chafee (RI)
Jeffords (VT)
Warner (VA)

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