This is important:

URGENT ACTION: Support Boxer, Dodd's PAPER BALLOT Bill ! Take Action! ACT TODAY! SENATE MUST PASS in 3 DAYS for NOV. 7 PAPER BALLOT ELECTION PROTECTION! Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Christopher Dodd (D-CT) - RECOGNIZING AT LAST THE PERIL IN NOVEMBER -- introduced EMERGENCY LEGISLATION this week to protect the upcoming election! See NYTimes p.A 22 today (9/27/06) http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/27/washington/27ballots.html?_r=1&oref=slogin The "CONFIDENCE IN VOTING ACT OF 2006" will protect the votes of 40% of the American electorate that currently depend on all-electronic voting machines - not only to COUNT their votes but to CAST them. The "CONFIDENCE IN VOTING ACT OF 2006" provides funding for states to supply "contingency" paper ballots as an option for voters who choose them, and in cases where machine malfunctions disenfranchise waiting voters. Participation by Registrars would be voluntary. Nationwide election protectors, many of whom are strictly non-partisan, nonetheless support this legislation to let local officials know they will be reimbursed by the federal government for doing the right thing. It must pass FAST to assure elections proceed without failure on November 7. CALL AND/OR E-MAIL YOUR SENATOR TODAY. THERE MUST BE NO OPPOSITION IN THE SENATE IN ORDER FOR THIS TO PASS! TELL YOUR SENATOR THIS IS NOT ABOUT RIGHT AND LEFT, BUT RIGHT AND WRONG - THIS IS THEIR HISTORIC CHANCE TO BECOME ELECTION PROTECTORS IN 2006 AND PROTECT THE VOTERS! As reported on the Brad Blog (www.bradblog.com), "The inclusion of Dodd as a co-sponsor on the Senate legislation is no small coup, as he was one of the original co-sponsors of the HAVA legislation of 2002 which this bill would amend. Until now, he and the other bi-partisan co-sponsors of that original legislation have been reluctant to open HAVA to amendment." The legislation "would refund state and county voting jurisdictions that offer paper ballots as an option to voters, and requires such jurisdictions post "in a conspicuous manner at the polling place, a notice stating that contingency paper ballots are available at the polling place and that a voter may request to use such a ballot at the voter's discretion." Call the Congressional Switchboard 202-225-3121 and ask for your Senator. Or write a short e-mail note in your own words supporting the "Confidence in Voting Act of 2006" which is so new it doesn't have a number. We're going fast. You need not show deep understanding of the complexities of e-voting to be effective. YOU ARE ASKING FOR PAPER BACK-UP BALLOTS TO AVOID DISENFRANCHISEMENT BY MACHINE! CONTACT YOUR SENATOR -- AND ANY FEDERAL LEGISLATOR WITH WHOM YOU HAVE INFLUENCE - TODAY!