Goal: To end US oppression worldwide, US citizens need to re-take control of their government, which begins with citizen-run, monitored and supervised elections. This workshop will present discussions with those involved in election reform, listen to workshop attendees election experiences & voting system problems, envision a revitalized, engaged voting public and strategize methods of making that vision a reality.

Background: Millions of citizens are now aware of how voting machine manufactures like Diebold and ES & S have control of elections systems across the country. Relatively few, however are aware of the role of neoliberals who lobbied to subsidize the procurement of these riggable voting systems.

Obvious problems with these systems have made headlines across the country. But the larger problem is, paperless voting systems still can determine election outcomes by switching votes without detection. These systems provide no physical evidence in the form of a paper ballot for the voter to cast. And when these voting machine companies provide a “paper trail solution”, the currently available solutions actually undermine the recount and audit processes, quite unsurprisingly.

If we, the people, remain divided and unorganized, we empower those who have hidden behind corporate logos and secret election software to continue the neo-liberal agenda.

Solutions are available to re-take our voting rights back, if we organize, and mobilize.

People power CAN restore democracy in the USA, and can make “Another U.S. not just possible, but a Reality!”

A segment of the documentary “The Right To Count”, filmed by Richard Van Slyke, will be shown. Richard will discuss the film and his goal of informing and inspiring the public to restore democracy.

A chronology of how we got to where we are in Georgia, and the nation, will be used to structure the program. This will include a discussion of the Voter Choice Coalition, it's history and how the history of the Voter Choice Coalition in Georgia is a microcosm of debate raging across the U.S. today.

Presenters:
John Fortuin & Aaron Ruscheta of Defenders of Democracy

Panelists:
Former US Rep. Cynthia McKinney, to discuss voting problems in her district since the introduction of Electronic Voting, as well as the ongoing lawsuit in her district from the August 2006 runoff. Rep. McKinney will be asked to describe her perspective on the challenges and successes of the election integrity movement.

Former Georgia State Senator Donzella James, to tell how corporate pressure was applied to her conference committee to remove paper-trail provisions from Georgia's E-Voting implementation bill. (Invited, we will video her segment if she is unable to attend).

(Both women above are involved in lawsuits challenging different aspects of electronic voting.)

Garland Favorito, leader of VoterGA, a group suing the State Of Georgia for implementation of unaccountable Electronic Voting.

Richard Van Slyke, filmmaker.

Breakout into three groups based on one's personal experience based in the campaign to restore democracy and end electronic voting :

Group 1: New to the Movement, (this session will be guided by an experienced leader.) This group will discuss their experiences with disenfranchisement, voting system problems and solutions, election official misconduct, and their personal viewpoints and ideas on voting integrity issues.

Group 2: Experienced activists in the movement with little or no lobbying experience. Someone with lobbying experience will sit in with this group. This group will discuss the challenges they see inside the voting integrity community, what defines success and how do we get there?

Group 3: Experienced leaders with lots of experience lobbying for bills to restore democracy. This group will discuss successful lobbying strategies, and creating unity in the voting integrity community.

Groups should discuss their experiences with the above issues and then come up with solutions to the problems they have experienced. Groups will nominate speakers to present problems and solutions that were most compelling to the entire audience and reconvene as one group.

Video Clip: Short Segment 5 minute or less from the film "The Right To Count".

The penultimate or last segment before ending the session:
Successful strategies to re-empower and re-enfranchise voters will be summarized, including recent victories in some states will be reviewed, to give hope to attendees, and to foreshadow the visioning and strategizing sessions Friday & Saturday.

Q & A Session

END program.

What ideas do you want the participants to take away? Comprehending the state of our Democracy, and the need for action, for ourselves, and for the world, Another World Is Mandatory!

How does your event connect to the USSF Crosscutting Themes? We'll discuss Corporate Control, privatization, and neoliberals engaged in implementing privatized elections.

Language Used: English

Will you provide handouts for attendees? In Spanish? YES In English? YES

What is the biggest challenge/adversary your movement/organization faces? National Unity on Solutions, Fighting neoliberals & their corporate allies & lobbyists in both parties with unlimited budgets, Voter Apathy, compromised gov't & NGO officials .

What concrete alternative(s) do you propose? We support use of hand-counted and optically scannable paper ballots & other non-contiguous, paper based, accountable voting systems. We must change the U.S.'s election day culture of vote and return to work.

Our organization is willing to work with other organizations on the election reform topic if desirable.