PROTECT OUR VOTES
#SecureElections
#PaperBallots
Our system of representative democracy is under attack. The very legitimacy of our elections is threatened by the interference of hostile powers. In 2016 Russian hackers launched cyber attacks and our government has done nothing to stop them.
Additionally, our voting machines are remarkably easy to compromise—as was demonstrated by hackers at the 2017 Defcon conference who breached a variety of voting machines in under two hours. And 20% of citizens cast paperless ballots on machines with no paper trails.
Last week, the Senate Intelligence Committee released a report on Russian interference in 2016, with recommendations for securing elections. Significantly, it encourages states to transition to paper ballots.
The recently passed omnibus spending bill includes $380 million for securing digital election systems. The Secure Elections Act, reintroduced in the Senate, provides funding for states both to change from paperless machines to ones with voter-verified paper ballots and to regularly audit all elections.
With the midterms looming, there is no time to lose. Our Senators must push for speedy passage of the Secure Elections Act, which has bipartisan support, and demand full enforcement of sanctions against Russia.
Pass the Secure Elections Act!
**ACTION 1: CALL OUR SENATORS**
(Leave a message if you can’t get through.)
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR SENATORS WYDEN AND MERKLEY:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent and voter from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because I am concerned that Congress has not taken steps to protect the integrity of our elections. It has neither neutralized future Russian interference nor ensured that every vote in this country is protected by a verifiable paper trail. Please ask the Senator to push for speedy passage of S.2261, the Secure Elections Act, and to demand full enforcement of sanctions against Russia. Thank you.”
**ACTION 2: SHARE WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY**
Share this post with friends and family. Help them leave messages for their Senators to support S.2261 the Secure Elections Act and to demand full enforcement of Russian sanctions.
SENATOR MERKLEY
Portland: (503) 326-3386, DC: (202) 224-3753
Salem: (503) 362-8102, Eugene: (541) 465-6750
Medford: (541) 608-9102, Bend: (541) 318-1298
Pendleton: (541) 278-1129
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/contact/
SENATOR WYDEN
Portland: (503) 326-7525, DC: (202) 224-5244
Salem: (503) 589-4555, Eugene: (541) 431-0229
Medford: (541) 858-5122, Bend: (541) 330-9142
La Grande: (541) 960-7691
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2018/03/22/the-next-russian-attack-will-be-far-worse-than-bots-and-trolls/
New bill could finally get rid of paperless voting machines
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/01/new-bill-could-finally-get-rid-of-paperless-voting-machines/