Son of Holt, No Better

Scroll down for initial annotation of H.R. 811 by Bev Harris.

Attached (at foot of this article) is a downloadable PDF of an advance, un-numbered copy of the successor bill to HR 550 that since has been re-introduced in the 110th Congress as H.R. 811. Note, this was the state of the bill at the time Bev Harris wrote the annotation below.

To compare these annotations with the current state of the bill, click here for Text of H.R. 811 (latest available version, 02/05/07)

EDA Synopsis: Although some individual measures in H.R. 811 are valid reforms in themselves, in the context of other retrograde measures in the bill that override them, H.R. 811 in totality is a dangerous deception, incapable of countering fraud, posing as meaningful reform while imposing policies that will destabilize and expose U.S. elections to unacceptable security risks and unaccountable, centralized control.

Following are:

1. Bev Harris' announcement of a Holt 2 forum topic at Blackboxvoting.org:

Post your comments here:
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/1954/46578.html

2. Link to  "Stopping H.R. 550 Because We Can't Compromise on Democracy" 
by Nanci Tobi and Paul Lehto
http://tinyurl.com/34zoov

3. The HR 550 Election Audit Methodology in U.S. Congressional Elections: Fundamental Shortcomings and Proposed Solutions
by Bruce O’Dell, Jonathan D. Simon, JD
http://tinyurl.com/2hjgms

4.Initial annotation of Holt H.R. 811, by Bev Harris

"They appear to have left the giant target with a bulls-eye in the middle in that bill. It is well hidden. It is an unfunded mandate that could cost billions. More on that later ... there is much in the bill that is good, and many areas of real concern. This is one time when it is of value to leave the privacy of the email list and
make your comments public. BBV hit counters show that we are visited heavily by
both houses of the US Congress, all state elections offices, and the press.
The bill is complex, as you have no doubt noticed. The suggestion is to bite off
just one piece and make an informed comment. Bite off as many as you have time
for. Here are the comment sections for each topic in the new Holt Bill:
For the sake of clarity, comments on this particular issue need to be posted in
the Holt Bill 2007 forum.

Here is the master list of comment sections: http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46591.html

LEHTO COMMENTS ON DECEPTIVE TERM "BALLOT" APPLIES TO PG. 2-3.


Pg.1 Lines 1-5 -- Section 1: Holt Bill description: "Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2007"
Text of bill and comment section:
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46599.html

Pg. 2-3 -- Section 2(a) (1) "2A": Ballot verification and audit capacity - General provisions
Text of bill and comment section:
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46600.html

Pg. 3-5 -- Section 2(a) (1) "2B": Manual audit capacity and audit capacity;
Ballot storage
Text of bill and comment section: http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46601.html

Pg. 5 -- Section 2(a) (1) "2C": Special rule for military and overseas voters
Text of bill and comment section:
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46602.html

Pg. 5-6 -- Section 2(a) (1) "2D": Disputes when paper ballots compromised
Text of bill and comment section:
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46603.html

Pg. 6-7 -- Section 2(a) (2) & (3): Conforming Amendments
Text of bill and comment section:
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46604.html

Pg. 7-8 -- Section 2(b) (1): Ballot verification for persons with disabilities
Text of bill and comment section:
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46605.html

Pg. 8-10 -- Section 2(b) (2): Accessible verification mechanisms: Study and testing Text of bill and comment section:
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46606.html

Pg. 10 -- Section 2(b) (3): Clarification of accessibility standards Text of bill and comment section:
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46607.html

Pg. 10-11 -- Section 2(c) (1) "7": Election official instruction
Text of bill and comment section:
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46608.html

Pg. 11 -- Section 2(c) (1) "8": Notice to voters
Text of bill and comment section:
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46612.html

Pg. 12 -- Section 2(c) (1) "9": Prohibit undisclosed software
Text of bill and comment section:
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46613.html

Pg 12 -- Section 2(c) (1) "10": Prohibit wireless
Text of bill and comment section:
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46614.html

Pg. 12 -- Section 2(c) (1) "11": Prohibit some Internet connections
Text of bill and comment section:
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46615.html

Pg. 13-15 -- Section 2(c) (1) "12": Security standards
Text of bill and comment section:
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46616.html

Pg. 15-16 -- Section 2(c) (1) "13": Ballot durability / readability
Text of bill and comment section:
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46617.html

Pg. 16-18 Section 2(c) (1) "14": No turning away voters
Text of bill and comment section:
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46618.html

Pg. 18-19 -- Section 2(c) (2A) "3A": Test labs - conflict of interest
Text of bill and comment section:
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46619.html

Pg. 2 -- Section 2(c) (2A) "3B": Public access to test results
Text of bill and comment section:
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46620.html

Pg. 20-22 -- Section 2(c) (2A) "4": Payments to labs
Text of bill and comment section:
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46621.html

Pg. 22-23 -- Section 2(c) (2A) "5": Dissemination of add'l info
Text of bill and comment section:
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46622.html

Pg. 23-24 -- Section 2(c) (2B): Conforming amendments
Text of bill and comment section:
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46593.html

Pg. 24 -- Section 2(c) (2C): Deadline for standards, escrow acct.
Text of bill and comment section:
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46624.html

Pg. 24-25 -- Section 2(c) (3): States not currently using paper ballots Text of bill and comment section:
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46625.html

Pg. 25-27 -- Section 2(d) (2): Revised formula for allocations of funds
Text of bill and comment section:
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46627.html

Pg. 27-30 -- Section 2(d) (3-7): State funding details
Text of bill and comment section:
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46628.html

Pg. 30-31 -- Section 3: HAVA enforcement
Text of bill and comment section: http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46629.html

Pg. 31-32 -- Section 4: Extension of the EAC
Text of bill and comment section:
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46630.html

Pg. 32-35 -- Section 5(a) (321): Election audit boards
Text of bill and comment section:
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46631.html

Pg. 35-37 -- Section 5(a) (322): Number of ballots counted in audit
Text of bill and comment section:
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46632.html

Pg. 37-40 -- Section 5(a) (323): Audit process
Text of bill and comment section:
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46633.html

Pg. 40-41 -- Section 5(a) (324): Selection of audit precincts
Text of bill and comment section:
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46634.html

Pg. 41-43 -- Section 5(a) (325): Publication of audit results
Text of bill and comment section:
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46635.html

Pg. 43-44 -- Section 5(a) (326): Payments to states for audits
Text of bill and comment section:
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46636.html

Pg. 45 -- Section 5(a) (327): Exceptions for states w. automatic recounts
Text of bill and comment section:
http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46637.html

Pg. 45 -- Section 5(a) (328): Effective date for audits
Text of bill and comment section: http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46638.html

Pg. 45-46 -- Section 5(b): Enforcement under HAVA
Text of bill and comment section: http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46639.html

Pg. 46 -- Section 5(c): Clerical amendment
Text of bill and comment section: http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46640.html

Pg. 46 -- Section 6: Repeal of EAC exemption
Text of bill and comment section: http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46641.html

Pg. 47 -- Section 7: Effective date
Text of bill and comment section: http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/46591/46642.html