June 13, 2005

Election Assessment Hearing
Wednesday, June 29 2005
The Garden Center at Hermann Park
1500 Hermann Drive
Houston, Texas 77004
MAP

Many researchers, analysts, and investigators are examining issues and pursuing improvements in election processes throughout the United States.  Along with numerous ongoing, lasting issues, the impact of electronic voting technologies on electoral processes has also become a matter of great concern in recent years.  In response to the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), every State is currently grappling with important decisions that may affect election processes fundamentally.

Recognizing the gravity of the full range of concerns associated with elections, the Election Assessment Hearing is undertaking a survey of issues and conditions observed in the conduct of our elections, as a means to examine the reliability of the process as a whole and establish a basis for assuring effective solutions.  This survey is intended to get a sense of the scope and diversity of concerns, to identify how to understand the quality of election processes, to review evidence and make preliminary assessments, and to facilitate the improvement of electoral processes by election administrators, policymakers, standards bodies, advisors and other participants in the production of vote counts.  Election process observers throughout the country have resolved to take part in this event.

The Election Assessment Hearing is an initial step in an effort to help assure sustainable election reform through the application of proven quality analysis, improvement and control methods which provide an effective framework that encompasses electoral processes as a whole.

A summary statement of findings from this hearing will be issued to government agencies and other stewards of election processes, and will also be made available for public review.  This statement will be submitted to the Commission on Federal Election Reform, which is holding their final hearing at the James Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University in Houston, Texas on June 30th.  The Commission is slated to issue a report in September and has not yet received crucial testimony from many election process observers.

As a part of the Election Assessment Hearing, a survey of submissions to include submitted prepared statements, supporting documents, and important public documents pertaining to election assessment will be delivered in CD format to election process stewards including the Commission on June 30th. Subsequent releases of this CD will incorporate the Hearing panel's assessment of evidence and recommended election process improvements.

To all election process researchers, investigators, and analysts: Please submit your work for consideration of inclusion in this CD (Submissions@ElectionAssessment.org). This CD will be distributed to State election officials and election reform organizations across the country. It will be a public document so incorporation of copyrighted materials must be accompanied by appropriate copyright releases. 

Please support our efforts and participate in making the Election Assessment Hearing a valuable contributor to assuring the reliability of our electoral processes.

Your support may be expressed by: 

• Donating funds via PayPal (NOT tax deductible)
• Attending the Hearing (Information Packet)
• Spreading the word to every place and everyone you know
• Distributing our PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT and subsequent press releases
• Volunteering your time and effort (volunteer@electionassessment.org)
• Identifying and forwarding our CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS to persons or organizations with important findings to report concerning problems with our current election processes