Voice of the Voters: The California report


Wed, 08/01/2007 - 7:00pm

http://voiceofthevoters.org/

* Will California Ban Failed DRE Voting Systems?
*Can DREs be Trusted Anywhere in the Country?
*How Can Grassroots Groups Make an Even Greater Impact in the Decisions?

Tonight on "Voice of the Voters!" Radio & Internet: Grassroots Organizer, Tom Courbat, Founder of "Save R Vote"

Following the stunning failure of California's certified electronic voting machines as a result of the "top to bottom review" ordered by Secretary of State Debra Bowen, will the state move to prohibit the use of DREs (touchscreen/touchbutton, direct recording electronic machines)?

What has been the role of California's grassroot voting rights campaigns in arriving at this critical juncture? What does the future hold for these groups in preparation for the 2008 national elections?

Tom Courbat, founder of SAVE R VOTE, will join guest host Lori Rosolowsky tonight on Voice of the Voters to discuss these questions. As the country continues to wind its way through these historic times, faced with establishing checks and balances in order to protect our vote, our most basic civil right, Voice of the Voters continues to bring the public the activists who are fighting the fight on the ground. As always, John Gideon, Executive Director of Voters Unite will provide a report on key breaking voting news, with commentary.

Some other topics to be considered include:

  • What are the "Seven Deadly Sins" in Riverside County?
  • How do local grassroots efforts make a difference on the national level?
  • What would be the benefits and challenges of uniting grassroots groups nationwide and creating a database of electoral integrity information for all to access?
  • What sort of organizing needs to be happening state by state?
  • What new communications strategies are the most promising for this type of organizing? You Tube? Blogging? Internet radio?
  • Where do relationships with traditional media fit into the organizing picture? How can grassroots groups obtain maximum exposure of electoral integrity issues and developing stories?

"Voice of the Voters!"
" Power and Responsibility of Democracy"
1360 AM, Philadelphia's Renaissance Radio,
and the Internet ( http://wnjc.duxpond.com/ )
Wednesday, August 1 -- 8PM ET
or through www.voiceofthevoters.org
(archives, podcast; recent shows)

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Voice of the Voters is an hour hosted this week by Lori Rosolowsky and devoted to voting rights and election reform. Ultimately it is an exploration of Representative Democracy itself and the responsibilities of citizens and their elected representatives. It airs every Wednesday night at 8:00 PM ET on 1360 AM and on the Internet. (http://wnjc.duxpond.com/)

Note: If you use dial up Internet, it is best to turn off all other programs in order to receive clearest broadcast.

Listeners can call in questions live at 856-227-1360 and submit questions in advance at the SaveOurVote website.

Voice of the Voters now also available as a podcast at iTunes.com under "Voice of the Voters" in the News & Politics category

Archived shows are available at http://mysite.verizon.net/resq4lzq/cvi/id267.html. Click here.

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Tom Courbat's Selected Bio:

* 30 years as a county government executive - including Finance Director of Riverside County 1992-1994

* Member of California Election Protection Network (CEPN), Election Defense Alliance (EDA), Citizens for Democracy (CDF), SAVE R VOTE (Secure Accurate Verifiable Elections Require Voter Observation of Touchscreen Equipment) and Progressive Democrats of America (PDA)

* Organizer of people and events since his early 20s

* Served in Korea during Vietnam Era and exposed to Agent Orange

* Diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma (terminal bone marrow/blood cancer) shortly after 9/11 - treatment working but too fatiguing to enable daily full time paid work - now 100% disabled and retired

* Election Integrity (EI) advocate since 2004 after meeting Bev Harris

* Based in Murrieta, CA, a city in Riverside County

* Heads up SAVE R VOTE, an EI watchdog group of 100 volunteers

* Monitored four elections in Riverside County from June 2006 through June 2007

* With Judy Alter (Los Angeles), Dan Ashby et al, participated in and filmed parallel election in San Diego county (June '05) and recount of mayoral race in August '05


Coalition for Voting Integrity www.voiceofthevoters.org