The Velvet Revolution Election Protection Strike Force is a national collaboration of grassroots organizations that have joined together to reclaim our democracy, providing oversight to rescue our elections from partisan politics and privatization.
Velvet Revolution is a term coined to describe the peaceful road to change in countries where governments ignored the inalienable rights of the people. A few inspiring Velvet Revolutions occurred in the former Soviet Union, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, South Africa, and of course, most recently in Ukraine. The citizens of those countries, tired of corruption and arrogant power, joined together by the millions in a sustained campaign of opposition - they demonstrated, boycotted, petitioned, and engaged in strikes until the pillars of power were replaced by the halls of the people.
VelvetRevolution.us
("VR") is a network of more than 120 progressive organizations reaching
millions
of people demanding progressive change through our VR Media, Electoral
Reform,
Conflict Resolution and Youth Revolution Campaigns. Indeed, Americans
everywhere are excited about our many recent successes including
helping to bring Election Reform issues and the Downing Street Memos to
the
attention of the American public. Our
Board is diverse, experienced and strong. Although the VR name and
concept
are relatively new, the people and organizations behind it are not.
VR is not a new startup but rather a continuum and the next logical
step
for those involved -- a marriage in which strengths are magnified by
the
common goals of the partners. Indeed, it is experience, ideas and
vision
that provide the promise of success for VR. More here.
Velvet Revolution is working on legal strategies to protect the election, including preservation of the chain of custody of voting equipment and cast votes.
We cried "foul" when riggable, hackable Diebold electronic election equipment was sent home on sleepovers with volunteer pollworkers in San Diego's primary election. We demanded a hand count of votes and even filed an election contest. Congress intervened, in what may be a test of its power to nullify Congressional elections around the country. The landmark case is now in the Appeals Court. A ruling is expected before the election.
We can't do it without you! Donate to our legal efforts!
Pollworkers for Democracy urges anyone who's not nailed down to pledge, right now, to work the polls with us this November. (And get paid.)
Because you – the informed, the concerned, the online – are needed in the front row seats on Election Day. You'll be helping voters, assisting elections officials, taking firsthand notes, and leaving with a new understanding of American elections. Sign up today!
The Parallel Election (PE) Project
from their website:
"The Parallel Election Project at http://thelandesreport.com/ParallelElections.htm
is an effort to return local control and meaningful oversight to elections in America. Our current voting
system is completely untrustworthy. State election officials across
the country have privatized and outsourced our elections to a handful
of domestic and foreign corporations. It is an open door to massive
vote fraud. We want to change that. We have decided to run our own
Parallel elections in order to compile hard evidence of how voters
really voted. We are organizing to place Parallel Election
Pollworkers (PEPs) at as many polling stations as possible."
Who Can Observe The Elections Process?
Summary - by state - of what we know about who can be in the polling place to observe
on Election Day. The article is here.
This is not a comprehensive list, but covers more than half the states...
Note in some cases rules change after the polling place closes, e.g. for observing the tabulation
of votes, so whenever one is planning to observe, it's good to check the
rules. This is just meant to be a starting point. If you know of changes or
additions, we'd be glad to hear about them.
New! "Democracy Deadlocked: Ohio"
This two-part high quality YouTube video discusses the King-Lincoln v. Blackwell case, destruction of ballots from the 2004 election, connection between the 2004 election in Ohio and the current economic crisis, and more.
Part One:
Part Two:
Here are some films and videos we recommend...
"Hacking Democracy"
Directors: Simon Ardizzone, Russell Michaels
The disturbingly shocking HBO documentary Hacking Democracy bravely tangles with our nation's ills at the heart of democracy, asking the simple question: How does America count its votes?
March 2007, 81 minutes
By Emmy-recognized filmmaker David Earnhardt
This full-length documentary includes footage of three whistleblowers, Clint Curtis, Steve Heller, and Bruce Funk, along with many other people who have been on the front lines in exposing the flaws and vulnerabilities of our vote-counting systems, such as Rep. John Conyers, Bob Fitrakis, Harvey Wasserman, Brad Friedman, Bev Harris, Teresa Hommel, and more.
UNCOUNTED website here. Trailer of UNCOUNTED on YouTube.
"Commander 'N Thief"
By Tom O'Brien, with an introduction by Greg Palast.
Others appearing include Congressman John Conyers, Jr.; attorneys Cliff Arnebeck, John Bonifaz, Robert Fitrakis, Joseph Geller, Peter Peckarsky and Susan Truitt; computer science expert Professor Avi Rubin of Johns Hopkins and Richard Hayes Phillips, Ph.D., the leading public-advocacy investigator of voting fraud in the 2004 Ohio presidential election; statistical expert Professor Steven Freeman, Ph.D. of the University of Pennsylvania; consumer advocate against electronic voting Bev Harris; Franklin County, Ohio Director of Elections Matthew Damschroder; and Ohio poll workers, concerned citizens, and community activists. 2007 Video website
"Stealing America...Vote by Vote"
By Emmy-winning, Oscar-nominated Dorothy Fadiman
Dorothy Fadiman's powerful, moving, infuriating, comprehensive and brilliant new film might well be re-named "The Crime of the Century."
March 2008, 70 minutes
Website: Stealing America Vote by Vote
From Concentric Media. For orders of 12 DVDs or less and paying by check, send an email or call 650-568-4340
"American Blackout"
Directed by Ian Inaba
Whatever you think you know about our election systems, this film will make you question further why the news media fails to accurately inform the public. Directed by GNN's Ian Inaba, creator of Eminem's "Mosh" music video, American Blackout critically examines the contemporary tactics used to control our democratic process and silence voices of political dissent.
Featuring: Congressional members John Conyers, John Lewis, Stephanie Tubbs-Jones, Bernie Sanders and journalists Greg Palast and Bob Fitrakis.
2006, 89 minutes
Four-minute YouTube trailer.
Website for AMERICAN BLACKOUT here.
"Democracy at Risk: CNN's Lou Dobbs and Kitty Pilgrim Report"
As shown on CNN; now THREE complete volumes with 51 episodes
There are three volumes of the DVD. The first covers 21 Lou Dobbs episodes from 6/20/2006 to 9/15/2006. The second volume covers 20 episodes from 9/20/2006 to 10/30/2006. The third covers 11 episodes from 10/31/2006 to 1/4/2007
2006 and 2007
FREE, from Gary at Solarbus.
"Electile Dysfunction"
By Penny Little
A 58-minute documentary by Penny Little exploring the story behind the November 2004 Presidential election. Shows a complicated and technical subject in an entertaining way, with a montage of interviews, dark humor, short animations and lively music. Includes Greg Palast, Danny Schechter, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Victor Navasky, Jim Hightower, William Rivers Pitt, David Dill, U.S. Congressman John Conyers, prominent computer scientists, celebrities, journalists, civil rights organizations, voting rights watchdogs, international poll watchers, election officials and everyday voters.
2005, 58 minutes
Irreverant Productions, ELECTILE DYSFUNCTION
"Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election"
Filmmakers: Richard Ray Perez and Joan Sekler
"Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election is the riveting story about the battle for the presidency in Florida and the undermining of democracy in America. Filmmakers Richard Ray Perez and Joan Sekler examine modern America's most controversial political contest: the 2000 election of George W. Bush. What emerges is a disturbing picture of an election marred by suspicious irregularities, electoral injustices, and sinister voter purges in a state governed by the winning candidate's brother. This 2004 Campaign Edition features new commentary by Danny Glover and a new segment on the dangers of electronic voting machines." amazon.com
2004
Watch Unprecedented FREE here
"How Ohio Pulled It Off"
Directors: Mariana Quiroga, Charla Baker, Matt Kraus
How Ohio Pulled It Off is a documentary film chronicling elections from 2004 to 2006 in the bellwether state of Ohio, and a study of the electoral system in principle and practice. Former Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell oversaw a close contest between George W. Bush and John Kerry in 2004, ultimately awarding Ohio's twenty electoral votes to the current Commander-in-Chief. Citizens reported a host of election problems, prompting grassroots efforts to monitor and reform the system. Two years later, voters soundly rejected Blackwell's bid for the Ohio governor's seat, selecting Ted Strickland by a wide margin. As two years of Ohio history unfolds, "How Ohio Pulled It Off" explains the finer points of elections in Ohio and the United States, offering lessons about the Electoral College, voting rules, regulations, and procedures.
Visit the website here.
"Help America Vote on Paper"
A 15-minute briefing video on the dangers to democracy posed by the privatization of the US election system and by electronic voting machines and what citizens can do about it. Includes attorney Lowell Finley, US Reps. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones, Cynthia McKinney, Lynn Woolsey. Video proposes either an optical scan system, which it acknowledges can be hacked, or a hand counted paper ballot. 2006
Watch the video FREEhere or call (415) 868-1900
"Vote Rigging 101"
and (a shorter version of "Vote Rigging 101").
Taken from presentations at the national teach-in in Oakland, on 2-26-05 by
Bob Fitrakis, Lynn Landes, Emily Levy, Dr. Jonathan Simon, Warren Stewart, Medea Benjamin, John Gideon, Larry Bensky, Jim March, and Paul Lehto.
Ecological Options Network (415) 868-1900 Website here.
No Umbrella: Election Day in the City
A 26 minute short documentary film by Laura Paglin from her taping of just one precinct during Ohio's 2004 election. She picked a good one. If you haven't seen it, you should! Website and trailer here.
Swing State Ohio
by Jed Wolfington.
"Swing State Ohio" is a one-hour documentary program about the perennial importance of Ohio as a vital swing state in U.S. Presidential Elections. It is set during the final 30 days of the 2004 election, when Ohio was THE decisive state that granted a controversial victory to George W. Bush. Website here
The Right To Count: Democracy v. Electronic Voting
by Richard Van Slyke
The Right To Count is the result of over two years of production. It includes interviews with top computer scientists from some of the most respected universities in the U.S. such as Johns Hopkins, Rice, Stanford, and Princeton. It also includes landmark hearings such as the Ohio 2004 hearings, the John Conyers congressional hearings, and an Election Assistance Commission hearing with representatives of the major voting machines manufacturers. Most of the nationally recognized voting rights experts are also included and present a serious case against electronic voting. Website here.
Truth in the Booth
Computer programmer Clint Curtis, now a 2008 candidate for the 24th Congressional District in Florida, tells about being asked by Congressman Tom Feeney (R-Fl) to make vote-rigging software. While Clint Curtis made these charges in a sworn affidavit, and in sworn testimony to a congressional committee, mainstream media has given scant attention to his story. Now he is running for Congress against Tom Feeney.
Truth in the Booth website here.
Humor Break? "Diebold Accidentally Leaks Results Of 2008 Election Early"
News analysis and expert interviews, often on issues of election integrity. Co-hosted by Pokey Anderson and Mark Bebawi, on Pacifica station KPFT (90.1 in Houston) Listen Live
6-7pm Central time on Sundays. Or listen to past shows.
weekly radio show on election integrity and voting rights issues
Tune in each Wednesday from 8-9pm Eastern. Hosted by Mary Ann Gould, with John Gideon reporting on the week's top voting news stories.
Listen to archived interviews with election protection leaders from around the nation.
Fridays
The Peter B. Collins Show
This three-hour show airs five days a week. Every Friday from 5-6pm Pacific time is the election integrity hour. Listen live. Or find a local station that carries the show.
VoteRescue Radio
Vickie Karp and Karen Renick host VoteRescue Radio, a new weekly two-hour radio show each Friday, airing 6-8 pm Central time, streaming live on We the People Radio Network (90.1 FM in the Austin area). Listen live on the internet.
More Dead Cause of Ohio: A new music video tying the manipulation of the Ohio 2004 presidential election to the death of thousands of soldiers in Iraq. From our partners at Justice Through Music.
"This is like playing with nitroglycerin." -- Ed Asner
Includes Paul Lehto, Bev Harris, Lowell Finlay, Ed Asner, ABC Sportscaster Jim Lampley & more.
Velvet Revolution Election Protection Strike Force was one of the sponsors. (YouTube 57:29)
