Dear Paper Trail Supporter:

There are two bills, one in the House and one in the Senate, which create a voter-verified paper audit trail system for Maryland. In fact, State Election Administrator Linda Lamone recently acknowledged that a paper trail is coming to Maryland. But we still need your help. Read below for an update and how you can get involved in making sure we have a good system in place for 2008.

House of Delegates and Senate Activities
Del. Sheila Hixson (Dist. 20) introduced HB18 in early January. This bill is substantively similar to the bill she introduced last year and passed the House unanimously. Senator Edward Kasemeyer (Dist. 12) recently introduced SB392, which is the Senate companion bill. Both bills require our voting system to maintain an independent method to mark our ballot from the machines designated to tabulate our vote. It makes the paper ballot the official record for a mandatory audit and for any recounts. We have identified however a need to amend HB18 so that it conforms to SB392. Sen. Kasemeyer's bill contains disability language that adequately ensures that disabled voters continue to vote secretly, independently and with the ability to verify their vote through audio or other means. This language needs to be added to Hixson's HB18.

Tell Your Reps to Support These Two Bills!
It is critical that legislators hear from you about these two bills. We have drafted two letters that you can use as templates for more personal letters or to send immediately via email here. Please contact your representatives now and let them know that you want a voter-verified paper audit trail this legislative session.

Tell Governor Martin O'Malley to Fund this Legislation!
Sen. Mike Miller has intimated that it might be too expensive to switch to a paper trail system by 2008. Funding for the paper trail legislation is up to our newly elected Governor Martin O'Malley. Send a message to O'Malley that the paper trail system must be funded and implemented now to be ready for the 2008 Presidential Primary. It can be done, and it is time for O'Malley to lead the way.

Lobby Night February 26
TrueVoteMD invites you to join us for Lobby Night on Monday, February 26, starting at 6pm at 49 West Coffeehouse. We will have a short training with the latest developments on both the House and Senate bills. Then we will send you off with talking points to meet with targeted legislators. Please sign up here. Lobby night ends at 8pm, when both the House and the Senate go into session.

Thank you for your commitment to this issue. Please don't forget to contact your legislators and let them know how you feel about this issue. And please forward this message to your friends and tell them to contact their legislators as well.


Sincerely,

Shazia Anwar
Director, TrueVoteMD