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On Capitol Hill: Reforming Elections Comprehensively

PFAW believes action by election officials to implement electoral reforms should be guided by four fundamental principles:

  • The voting process must be uniform and nondiscriminatory
  • Voters must be able to independently and privately cast and verify their ballot
  • Any voting system must comply with national certification standards
  • Voter confidence and reliability in the electoral process must be maintained.

The Count Every Vote Act of 2007 helps to fulfill these principles by providing a uniform, non discriminatory voting process that addresses the multiplicity of problems voters have experienced in the most recent elections — so that all voters can have confidence in the reliability of the electoral process.

Understanding the Count Every Vote Act of 2007


People For the American Way enthusiastically supports passage of the Count Every Vote Act and is encouraging its use as a model for reform in the states.

Why Do We Need the Count Every Vote Act?

  • There is a need for practical, secure and accessible solutions at the ballot box for all Americans, especially communities that have historically faced substantial barriers to the ballot box, including Americans with disabilities, racial minorities, and American citizens with limited English proficiency.
  • Improvements to the Help America Vote Act of 2002 are needed because of current loopholes that disenfranchise voters.

What the Count Every Vote Act Does

  • Requires that there be voter-verified audit trails for all electronic voting machines by November 4, 2008.
  • Requires that at least one machine per precinct must allow voters with disabilities and language minority voters to cast a vote in a private and independent manner.
  • Requires that provisions be established to allow for same-day voter registration.
  • Requires that states give 45 day notice prior to purging the voter file.
  • Provides for no-excuse absentee voting to ensure everyone has an opportunity to have his or her vote counted.
  • Allows voters to cast an emergency ballot if there is a failure while they are waiting at a polling place.
  • Restores voting rights to ex-felons who have paid their debt to society by completing their incarceration, probation and parole, and helps them re-engage as full participants in society.
  • Creates a uniform system for counting provisional ballots.
  • Provides for a better enforcement of anti-voter intimidation laws.
  • Makes it unlawful for chief state election officials or those who own or serve as the CEO, COO, CFO or President of an entity that designs or manufactures a voting system, to take part in certain campaign activities.
  • Makes Election Day a national federal holiday.
  • Extends the authorization of the Election Assistance Commission.

Current Status in Congress

  • The Count Every Vote Act of 2007 (S. 804) was introduced by Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) on March 7, 2007. It currently has 7 cosponsors. Companion legislation (H.R. 1381) was introduced by Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-11th OH) that same day. It currently has 20 cosponsors.
  • S. 804 awaits action in the Senate Rules and Administration Committee.
  • H.R. 1381 awaits action in four House committees: House Administration, Judiciary, the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security, and the Science and Technology Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation.
Updated February 28, 2008