Thomas Daschle: “I am pleased that Senators Dodd, McConnell, Schumer, Bond, and Torricelli were able to reach agreement on a strong…”

“I am pleased that Senators Dodd, McConnell, Schumer, Bond, and Torricelli were able to reach agreement on a strong, bipartisan election reform bill. Studies of the 2000 elections have made it clear that outdated and unreliable technology, confusing ballots, language barriers, lack of voter education, lack of poll-worker training, and inaccurate voting lists all added up to the disenfranchisement of six million voters. These problems are unacceptable, and, as a Nation, we can't afford to repeat them. Our Federal system leaves it to individual States to conduct their own elections; but Congress has an obligation to see to it that election mechanisms and procedures in every county in every State guarantee every eligible citizen a voice in the democratic process. Under this agreement, States will be required to meet minimum standards, and a bipartisan committee will be created to set those standards. This bill requires that election officials notify voters of overvotes and give them the opportunity to correct a flawed ballot before it is cast. It will establish statewide computerized voter registration lists. This bill further guarantees that voting machines be made accessible to people with limited English proficiency and people with disabilities, and that provisional ballots be made available to people whose names do not appear on voting lists.”