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2010 Resolution: Make the Working Groups Work
December 31, 2009
A Message to All EDA Working Group Members
Hello Everyone,
I'm writing to you today with a request and resolution that 2010 be the year
that we finally make the EDA Working Groups work the way we know they can, and should.
We have the people, the communication channels, and collaborative applications. (See note about New Forums below).
What we need most of all, are active group coordinators to help the groups cohere and get up their own working momentum.
Once group members start working together on projects, members will likely be self-directing.
That's been my experience working in small groups, and probably yours as well.
But even the most self-initiating of groups have some need for group leadership to organize and rally members.
Call for Candidate Nominations and Coordinator Elections
At present, half of the groups have no coordinators at all.
Several of our current coordinators, who have been in the role since EDA began in July, 2006, have expressed
the desire to move on and let someone new take over for them.
This transition from the old to new year is the perfect time to choose one (or two) of you to be each group's designated, voting representative(s) to the EDA Coordinating Council for 2010.
As you probably realize, the initial cohort of coordinators were assigned their roles by the EDA co-founders in July 2006, with the expectation that after the November 2006 elections, beginning in the first of the new 2007 year, elections would be held in all the Working Groups and a new council of elected coordinators would be formed.
That never happened.
We were engaged in putting out electoral brush fires.
Getting coordinators elected kept getting moved down the priority list.
But now we have the time and the opportunity for a fresh start.
We would like to have each of the groups choose their representative(s) to the EDA Coordinating Council in January.
Those of you who enjoy facilitating group interaction, please take the initiative.
Announce to your group that you're willing to take on this role.
Volunteer to Save New York's Lever Voting System
Volunteer to help keep NY's voting systems constitutional! Everything you do and learn on this project will be applicable to other, similar projects. That's why we encourage you to join a Working Group that matches your interests, so you can team up with others interested in the same skills and subjects. Learn and work together to build up EI movement's capacity to carry out effective campaigns.
Contact Joanne Lukacher at joanne@re-mediaetc.org to get involved.
How You Can Help
• Newshounds - Comb the press for articles on New York's election technology, then post comments and contact the reporters.
• Bloggers - Reach hundreds of New York readers with your commentaries on the case and critiques of mainstream coverage.
• Fundraisers - We only need a half a million dollars to pursue this; totally doable.
• Board of Election Monitors - Obtain weekly feedback on how the ballot marking devices are fairing, personnel and training issues, costs, etc. Our county election commissioners need support.
• Local Liaisons - Contact local political committees (Dems, Repubs, Greens, Libertarians) and civic organizations (advocacy groups, churches, clubs, unions). Voting matters to everyone!
• Teachers/Professors - This is the ultimate civics lesson, defending voting rights guaranteed in the New York constitution. Bring your students to witness.
• Court Gallery - Attend court hearings so the judge and newsmedia can see the public's commitment to election transparency.
• Pro Bono Attorneys - This is a trailblazing lawsuit and we'll need devoted legal talent to prevail.
• Videographers - Document this story as New York sets precedent for the nation, reaffirming the right to vote as the civil right that protects all others.
Working Groups Overview
Working Groups Overview
Election Defense Alliance (EDA) Working Groups are comprised of individuals and representatives of local grassroots groups form around the nation, who work together on specific subject content or campaign tactics, refining knowledge and developing skills and expertise.Strategies and methods developed in the Working Groups can be exported back for use at the regional level, as direct field experience from the local counties comes back to inform the Working Groups. This is a two-way, local-to-national collaborative process to bring about election integrity nationwide.
Each Working Group selects its own Coordinator who participates in EDA’s governing body, the Coordinating Council.
To join an EDA Working Group:
First, open an EDA website account, then complete this registration survey to join the Working Group that best matches your interests.
Registration and Voting Systems
This group specializes in learning about the different E-voting vendors and their voting machines and related products, including voter registration database software and service; non-computerized voter assistance technology and hand-counted paper ballot voting systems; and the state and federal election laws and voting system certification standards that are supposed to regulate their use. Correlating what is known about the hacking vulnerabilities of the voting systems, security measures that should be applied, and better alternatives to electronic vote counting, the Registration and Voting Systems Working Group collaborate with regional election integrity groups in advising and influencing election administrators and elected county officials to avoid costly investments in insecure voting systems and institute election methods that afford accuracy and full public accountability.
Election Monitoring
The Election Monitoring Group studies all aspects of the electoral process with emphasis on opportunities for public observation, then organizes and trains volunteers at the precinct level to monitor and record all phases of voter registration, elections and recounts -- before, during and after -- covering every form of voting on every voting and counting occasion.
Election Data Analysis
The Data Analysis Working Group develops methodologies for collecting, sharing, and analyzing historical election data, opinion polls, exit polls and other relevant metrics, and applies multiple, automated analytic routines to rapidly isolate and examine anomalous patterns that suggest error or fraud in the officially reported election results.
Investigations
Drawing on methods such as those modeled by Blackboxvoting.org, and by John Brakey of AUDITAZ.org, the Investigations group develops expert familiarity with the hardware, software, and use procedures for electronic voting machines of all vendors, as well as the regulatory standards and procedures that apply to them. The Investigations Working Group also acquires skill in researching business records, contracts, personnel and practices, and political and financial relationships of the voting machine industry.
Legal
The Legal Working Group researches all applicable law governing voting machines and elections, and pursues legal actions to enforce compliance with state election laws. The Legal group also trains and deploys legal monitoring teams to respond to election violations as they occur.
Legislation
In those states where there is potential for passage of electoral reform legislation, the Legislation Working Group works to effect the best election reform possible to prevent or detect electoral fraud -- from total hand-counted paper ballots systems, to banning DRE voting machines and privatized, nondisclosed source code, to instituting reliable manual auditing and recount procedures.
Media and Publicity
This group cultivates extensive contacts in conventional and alternative media and is prepared to issue well-crafted press releases in quick response to news placement opportunities, consistently and frequently. They develop expertise and effective innovations in the use of websites, weblogs, e-mail newsletters, instant messaging, alternative print publications and independent film, video, and radio.
Communications
The Communications group is responsible for researching the best quality information on all aspects of the EDA's election integrity campaign, and adapting and conveying this information in various communications media for a variety of audiences and purposes, including (for example) introductory fact sheets on electronic voting for the general public, training materials for election integrity activists, publicity collateral, press releases, briefings for elections officials and legislators, and technical presentations in support of legal initiatives.
Communications Subgroups include: Website, E-mail Network, Research, Writing, Graphics, and Audio/Visual.
Public Education
The Public Education Working Group utilizes all available communication media, in combination with effective instructional approaches, to prepare, distribute, and effectively present messages educating citizens about the crisis in American elections, and motivating them to become part of the solution.
Volunteer Recruitment and Training
The Volunteer Recruitment and Training Working Group helps find the best match for EDA volunteers, and also works to coordinate and promote local and state recruitment and training activities by collecting best-practice methods from regional affiliates, developing informational and recruitment materials, and sharing ideas, materials, and methods.
Organizational Liaison
Every civic interest group has a shared interest in fair elections and honest vote counts. The Organizational Liaison group's charge is to expand the election integrity movement by engaging other organizations of every variety in the common project of restoring electoral democracy and legitimate, representative government. This group pursues alliances with civic, social, cultural, political, labor, and religious groups at local, regional, and national levels.
Fundraising
The Fundraising Working Group works to expand the base of individual donors whose contributions have enabled EDA's initiatives to date, while seeking to augment that support with major foundation grants and major individual gifts.
Events Production
The Events Production Working Group has two specialized sub-groups:
Audience Events, and Demonstration Events, charged with managing all aspects of EDA public events productions, developing the contacts, procedures and skills to manage everything from planning, permits, and publicity through the practical, physical arrangements for producing audience events as well as managing large assemblies of people in directed, coordinated action.
To join an EDA Working Group:
First, open an EDA website account, then complete this registration survey to join the Working Group that best matches your interests.
BACK to the Working Groups Listing Page
GO to the Working Groups Forums (requires Working Group registration)
Working Group Registration Procedure
About EDA Working Groups, and How to Join
Election Defense Alliance (EDA) Working Groups are comprised of election integrity activists from around the country, who work together on specific subject content or campaign tactics, refining knowledge and developing skills and expertise.By joining a Working Group you will have read and write access to the Working Group forums where you can participate in all phases of political campaign work. You will also have a voting voice in deciding EDA policies.
Registration Procedure:
First, please browse the descriptions for each of our 14 groups that you will find listed on this page: http://www.electiondefensealliance.org/working_groups_overview
Decide on one or no more than two Groups you would like to participate in. Send an e-mail note to Info(at)ElectionDefenseAlliance(dot)org.
In the note, state your real first and last name, your address, telephone, and e-mail. (*See Privacy Policy at the conclusion of this note, below).
Tell us which one or two Working Group(s) you are interested in joining, and something about your previous experience working on election integrity, or on any other social/political issues, and other organizations you are active in.
Indicate up to 3 job skills, 3 study subjects, and 3 campaign activities you are most interested in pursuing as a Working Group participant.
For example:
Skills: (public speaking, website programming, grantwriting, etc.)?
Study areas: (Election law, data forensics, voting machines, etc.)
Campaign activities: (Publicity, fundraising, public education, etc.)
Skills and study areas don't have to be high-tech.
Writing letters to the editor, social networking, researching grants, contacting other organizations, phoning volunteers--
-- these are all important jobs that EDA needs your help doing.
Upon receipt of your information, your Working Group access will be activated, so you can read and write in the Forum areas and subscribe to a Working Group e-mail list.
Privacy Policy for Working Group Forums
The more detailed personal information you provide when registering for Working Group participation will be shared with Coordinators and fellow Working Group volunteers. By joining a Working Group, you give your consent for the sharing of this information with EDA coordinators and other Working Group members. Personal information is shared in the Working Groups to promote group trust through full disclosure, and to facilitate working collaboration.
Events Production
The Events Production Working Group will manage all aspects of EDA public events productions, developing the contacts, procedures and skills to manage everything from planning, permits, and publicity through the practical, physical arrangements for managing large assemblies of people in directed, coordinated action. Events Production will take the lead management role while coordinating with other EDA Working Groups that have directly related functions, such as Media and Publicity.
- Events Subcommittees
- Audience Events
- Demonstration Events
Audience events, generally presented in an audience venue setting, include public programs such as talks by featured speakers, panel discussions, video or film showings, and conferences.
Demonstration events, generally presented in outdoor settings or in governmental meeting chambers, include press conferences, public testimony at government hearings, demonstrations, vigils, marches, and rallies.
On Election Day, a special category of public demonstrations will be convened at county central counting locations,* commencing at the close of polls and continuing throughout election night and beyond, demanding verified proof of reported election results. The demonstrations will be covered live via web portals and public radio and TV networks, interspersed with updates from the Election Data Analysis project reporting suspect election totals and directing increased protest turnout to those locations. (* See more under EDRR, "Election Day Rapid Response").
Coordinator:
Members:
Dale Axelrod CA
Jeremy Lewis NY
Victoria Hayen MN
Dorrie Steinhoff OH
Joan Kowal MI
GO TO THE FORUM (Forum access requires Working Group registration)
Investigations
County-level election integrity organizations will train citizen volunteers to conduct election research drawing on methods such as those modeled by Blackboxvoting.org. Methods will include filing public records requests with county and state elections departments seeking raw voting data; procedures for the conduct of elections; voting systems manuals, procedures, and technical specifications; and transactions and communications between local elections departments, voting systems vendors, and secretaries of state or other chief state elections officials.
Election data down to the precinct level will be sought, including voter registration rolls, voter rosters (poll books), precinct poll tapes, ballot image files, tabulator backup data files, disaggregated, real-time precinct voting data transmissions, absentee ballots and reports, spoiled ballots and reports, provisional ballots and reports, memory card inventories, modem traffic logs, ballot chain of custody documentation, and whatever else is determined to be necessary for a complete accounting of all voting activity.
Technical experts, whether volunteers or hired consultants, will examine voting systems information collected pursuant to public records requests and/or evidence obtained through legal discovery, searching for evidence indicating machine error, clerical error, and other election irregularities, including evidence of vote-altering software and firmware operations.
These hardware and software technical specialists will devise election auditing methodologies; recruit other expert consultants; train other volunteers in information-gathering; conduct forensic examinations of electronic voting equipment, computer hard drives, machine logs, modem traffic logs, software code, etc.; publish findings for peer review; and prepare evidence for litigation efforts.
Other volunteer researchers will pursue leads on all other types of information pertaining to electronic and non-electronic voting machines, supplies, vendors and their subcontractors, including business and political relationships linking elections officials, voting system vendors, representatives of polling firms and news media. Investigations will cover corporate ownership, loans and payments, business or data-sharing agreements, lobbying of local elections officials or state or federal legislators, and any other relationships or dealings influencing the conduct and reporting of elections.
Election data, technical evidence, and analysis methods developed by this coalition will be shared and coordinated with the National Election Data Archive and other projects working to systematize election data reporting and analyze patterns in past elections for evidence of error or fraud in the tabulation of election results.
Members:
John Brakey AZ
Chandra Friese CA
David Griscom AZ
Tom Manaugh TX
Ellen Stone WA
Peg Luther TX
Wallace Knight MD
Fritzi Ross NC
Page Day WA
Jim Soper CA
Phyllis Huster WA
Bev Harris WA
Ken Karan CA
Jim March AZ
Ramon Sevilla CA
GO TO THE FORUM (Forum access requires Working Group registration)
Legal
County-level organizations will pursue legal actions to enforce compliance with state election laws currently being violated by county elections departments.
Violations include abridgement of the public's right to observe all phases of the voting process, to inspect voting systems, to have votes reported at the precinct level, to have recount laws uniformly applied, and to have access to recounts without the assessment of prohibitively high fees.
Our legal team will appeal to county district attorneys and grand juries, and state attorneys general to uphold state election laws being breached; but, in the event government law enforcement fails to enforce the election laws, the Alliance will engage our own attorneys to file class action suits against county and state elections departments and voting vendors who are noncompliant with state election laws.
Additionally, we will file injunctions to block the purchase, deployment, or use of voting systems that are not legally qualified according to state voting system standards, or that otherwise fail to comply with state election regulations or laws, including state bond acts for funding purchase of voting equipment.
We will also file suit to enjoin the use of any voting system that contains known security risks, or that otherwise constitutes a threat to electoral integrity or a waste of public funds. Where "sunshine" or "public right to know" or other relevant clauses in state constitutions present opportunity, we will sue to reverse the privatization of public elections by prohibiting proprietary source code in any voting system, and require that, if any voting software is used at all, it must be publicly developed and managed as a truly open-source software application.
Members:
Ken Karan CA
Tom Manaugh TX
Andi Novick NY
Mark E. Smith CA
Dan Ashby CA
Gail Jonas CA
GO TO THE FORUM (Forum access requires Working Group registration)
Communications
Description:
The Communications Working Group is responsible for researching the best quality information on all aspects of EDA’s election integrity campaign, and adapting and conveying this information in various communications media for a variety of audiences and purposes, including (for example) introductory fact sheets on electronic voting for the general public, training materials for election integrity activists, press releases, event promotion, informational radio spots and web videos, print and internet advertising, briefings for elections officials and legislators, and technical presentations in support of legal initiatives.
The Communications Working Group will be a service resource to all other EDA Working Groups, and will work closely with Media and Publicity and Public Education on projects where the functions of all three groups intersect.
Each member of the Communications Group will participate in one or more specialty groups concentrating on different phases of message development and different media forms. These include National Website, National E-mail Network, Research, Writing, Graphics, and Audio-Visual. See detailed descriptions of each further below.
Coordinator: Dale Axelrod CA
Members:
Bev Donley TX
Eileen Wilkinson NY
Mark Hardin CA
Election Data Analysis
The Data Analysis Working Group collects and analyzes exit poll numbers, official election returns, baseline historical election data, and relevant demographic data to evaluate accuracy of reported election results and raise early warning of suspect data patterns suggesting election fraud.
The Data Analysis Group will contribute to the EDA Election Data Project by developing data conversion tools and procedures to standardize election data collected from all electoral jurisdictions in the nation, so that normative election data histories and baselines will be prepared in advance of elections. The group will also develop automated analytic software routines to rapidly isolate and examine anomalous patterns that suggest error or fraud in officially reported election results.
With baseline data and forensic data-checking software in place, comparative analysis of exit poll, election result, and historical voting data can be run in real-time as election results are released on Election Day. Anomalous data patterns indicating the possible presence of voting fraud will be flagged for immediate, intensive analysis. Candidates in affected races will be advised against early concessions, pending further investigation, and preparations for hand recounts will be commenced, drawing on recount funds and trained precinct volunteers.
Coordinator: Harold Lecar CA
Co-Coordinator: Dale Tavris MD
Members:
Jerry Lobdill TX
Tom Manaugh TX
Sally Castleman MA
Eugenia Sherman FL
Jonathan Simon MA
Jeremy Lewis NY
Sharon Mullen MA
Mary Edwards CA
Cary Nation FL
Dave Kraig NM
Joanna Herlihy MA
Josh Mitteldorf PA
Vic Bobnick NY
Dave Larson IL
John Wenger CA
DuncanChesley ME
William Steve Lang FL
James Q. Jacobs OR
John Belmonte NY
Conrad Sieber OR
Additional others who helped in the 2006 Election Data Project are encouraged to join the Working Group
GO TO THE FORUM (Forum access requires Working Group registration)
Election Monitoring
Description: Until we have secure and verifiable voting systems under public rather than private control, it will be necessary for citizens to closely monitor all phases of the voting process and to conduct independent checks of official election results.
The Election Monitoring Group studies all aspects of the electoral process with emphasis on opportunities for public observation, then organizes and trains volunteers at the precinct level to monitor and record all phases of voter registration, elections, and recounts, before, during and after, covering every form of voting on every voting and counting occasion.
Voting monitors will be trained how and when to file public records requests for every relevant item of election data.
Other volunteers will be trained to conduct "parallel elections" in which voters voluntarily cast unofficial paper ballots that duplicate their official ballots cast on electronic voting systems. The paper ballots afford a basis for statistical comparison with the official vote count, and may provide indication of suspicious official vote results warranting further investigation, including recounts.
The Election Monitoring Group will be involved in the planning and execution of EDA exit polls of selected target precincts and contests around the country, and will arrange for wide and timely publication of the exit poll data in comparison to officially announced voting results.
Co-Coordinators:
Tom Courbat CA
Ramon Sevilla CA
Members:
Judy Alter CA
Albert Zepeda TX
Chuck Garner CA
Chandra Friese CA
Lewis Miller NJ
Ron Watt CA
Sharon Mullen MA
Suzanne Warden CA
Ellen Brodsky FL
Max Prejean PA
Michelle Gabriel CA
Francene Blanchard CA
John Belmonte NY
Mark Hardin CA
Conrad Sieber OR
GO TO THE FORUM (Forum access requires Working Group registration)
