Dear Williamson County Democrats,

Perhaps you have been following along the most recent legislative
actions of our State Government. Take a deep breath and another
sip of Coffee, this is a little long:

THE STATE OF TENNESSEE

Freedom of choice in Women's private medical and reproductive health
issues are about to be restricted in Tennessee.

Carrying Guns into Drinking Establishments and Public Parks - apparently a
good idea to some in Tennessee - just passed State Legislature and moving
it's way toward becoming State Law. 

Efforts to set Tennessee's Immigration Policy back 50 years - next up.

Sane Election Standards and Voting Rights -  currently slated for slaughter.

There are so many core issues in the hands of our State Representatives
right now that one doesn't know where to begin fighting back.
I submit that we take up the fight on Voting and Election Standards.
If we lose this battle - we stand to lose everything and for a long time.

All of us. Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Independents, Everyone.

On June 5th, 2008 Governor Bredesen signed the TN Voter Confidence Act into law.

The TN Voter Confidence Act requires that we stop voting in Tennessee on unreliable,
non verifiable, easily hack-able, insecure touch screen computers. Those which can
not be audited, can not be re-counted and leave no trail of evidence as to the
accuracy of our vote whatsoever.

The TN Voter Confidence Act mandates that we begin voting in Tennessee by sane,
modern and practical standard, (as 43 other States do) and that County Election boards
implement by November 2010.

The essential changes that were adopted last June are:
Paper ballots marked by the voter, then scanned by an optical scanner into a computer
system, with random hand counted audits required to check the accuracy of electronic
vote tallies, with paper ballots saved for the possibility of electoral challenge or recount.

Perhaps you agree that Verifiable Election Standards are essential to the most basic
function of Democracy - that we have confidence that every vote will be accurately
counted and recorded. That if there is a challenge to that count, there exists a physical
backup to verify accuracy.

Is this expensive? Federal funding for this initiative had passed into Federal Law
last year with the help of Congressman Lincoln Davis (D) 4th District. Done deal.
Signed, sealed, and federally funded. To be implemented in Tennessee by November 2010.

BUT GUESS WHAT IS ON THE TENNESSEE GOP AGENDA NEXT?

The TN GOP majority doesn't think verifiable voting standards are important and our
Williamson County Representatives are leading the charge to repeal it.

Williamson County Representatives Glen Casada (R) State House 63rd District,
and Jack Johnson (R) State Senate District 23 are leading a concerted effort to
overturn key elements of the TN Voter Confidence Act passed and signed into
law less than one year ago.

Click here to see their proposals:
http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/billsearch/billsearchadvanced.aspx?terms=voter%20confidence%20act&searchtype=all

Sen. Jack Johnson and Rep. Glen Casada see no priority that Tennesseans vote with confidence.
They represent us. The question is - How do we feel about it? and what are we willing to do about it?

Please write or call your Representatives including Governor Bredesen. Let them know how you feel about the sanctity
of the most basic function of Democracy - Our Vote.

The TN Voter Confidence Act was long and hard fought for Legislation. Obviously it was passed and signed into law for good reason.
The funding is already secured and does not come out of the State Budget.
I ask you to consider - what is the reasoning behind repealing it?
How important is your vote anyway?

Your vote counts. Make sure it does.

As always - please be polite with your viewpoint and comments.

Senator Jack Johnson
10A Legislative Plaza
Nashville, TN 37243
615.741-2495
Email: sen.jack.johnson@capitol.tn.gov

State Representative Glen Casada
4893 Bethesda-Duplex Road
College Grove, TN 37046
615.595.8759   741-4389
Email: rep.glen.casada@legislature.state.tn.us

State Representative Charles Sargent

206 War Memorial Building 
Nashville, TN 37243-0161 Phone (615) 771-7222
Email: rep.charles.sargent@capitol.tn.gov

Governor Phil Bredesen
Tennessee State Capitol
Nashville, TN 37243-0001
615.741.2001
Email: phil.bredesen@state.tn.us
 

Please feel free to contact other State representatives outside of Williamson County and to write to newspapers as well. 

Thank You for your attention.

Todd Sharp

 
Williamson County Democratic Party - Chair
112-B East Fowlkes Street
Franklin, TN 37064
615 790.3659 office
615.477.2073 mobil
visit: www.wcdemocrats.com


Links for your convenience:

http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/106/Fiscal/HB0295.pdf
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/106/Bill/SB0305.pdf
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/106/Bill/HB0295.pdf
http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default.aspx?BillNumber=HB0295

http://www.johnsontnsenate.com/News/
http://www.glencasada.com/

Click here to read TN Voter Confidence Act TN Code:
(you will need to open the TN Code folder, then open the title 2 elections folder, and then scroll to the last folder - TN Voter Confidence Act)
http://www.michie.com/tennessee/lpext.dll?f=templates&fn=main-h.htm&cp=

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/199/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=26911