Washington, Sep 20, 2006 -

Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH) gave the following floor speech today:

“Today the House will debate the “Federal Election Integrity Act of 2006”.  This legislation has nothing to do with protecting the right to vote and everything to do with restricting it. 

“The real threat to our electoral system is not a contrived conspiracy of non-citizens illegally voting in federal elections.  The true threat is vulnerable electronic voting machines.  It is machines with no paper trail.  It is poll workers with inadequate training and resources.  It is voter alienation because people have lost faith in the political process.

“Congress has both the ability and the duty to act on real voting reform that addresses the real issues that mar our electoral system.  Issues researched and documented by countless legitimate activists and academics. 

“There is a reason the article on the front page of last Sunday’s Washington Post, entitled “Major Problems at Polls Feared”, does not once mention concerns about non-citizens voting.  It is because that is not a real issue of voting reform.

“If we want to strengthen democracy, if we want to protect the right to vote, if we want to reengage Americans in their government, then we need real voting reform now.

“Throw out electronic voting machines by Diebold, and others, which are a hackers dream. Go back to paper ballots and paper trails. Make our election process honest again. Enough stolen elections.

“Make every vote count, and make sure every vote is honestly counted.”

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