Essential signing.

I just saw this petition linked from Medley. This is one of my personal causes, and I urge everyone to visit and sign the petition at the very least--and write personal letters to your Congresspersons and Senators, preferably.

We must act now to ensure that our voting systems produce accurate and verifiable results. Some states are planning to use machines that will not allow voters to verify their choices. This means that any flaws in the machine or software will never be caught -- and no recount will be possible.

And the head of the largest e-voting machine company -- who is a major contributor to George Bush and has promised to deliver Ohio to him -- asks that we just trust him.

Today we call on Congress and the states to require any electronic voting machine used in this election to produce a paper trail -- one that allows voters to verify their choices and officials to conduct recounts.

I have a special place in hell reserved for those who attempt to falsify electoral results, no matter what party. And, frankly, I just don't understand the strong Republican opposition to this demand for accountability; surely you realize the most patriotic thing an American can do is vote and expect his or her vote to be accurate. Beyond that, it just looks stupid politically to not demand accountability in the name of patriotism! After all, how long will it take for us lib'ruls to turn the tables and ask, "Why do you hate America?"