Will The 2008 Vote Be Fair?

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Video: Will The 2008 Vote Be Fair?

How safe is your right to vote? Former Justice Department official and voting rights lawyer David Becker, who worked under both President George W. Bush and former President Bill Clinton, alleges a systematic effort to deny the vote to hundreds of thousands, possibly millions, of Americans. In a revealing interview with NOW's David Brancaccio, Becker openly worries that the 2008 election will not be free and fair. Is our government part of the solution, or part of the problem?

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During the past two years, NOW has investigated the state of America's election system. In the following reports, NOW found alarming evidence that our vote is in danger of manipulation and outright suppression.

NOW: Voter Caging
NOW reports on evidence showing that, in 2004, Republicans orchestrated a plan to hold down the Democratic vote in key battleground states. The plan centered on an effort to disqualify voters based on their race and ethnicity.

NOW: Taking the Initiative
Each election year, states around the country put ballot initiatives on a range of issues up to a popular vote. In 2006, NOW investigated how national organizations and wealthy individuals are often the driving force behind so-called "local" ballot initiatives.

NOW: Down for the Count
NOW looks at how problems with new voting machines introduced in the 2004 and 2006 elections undermine the integrity of our democratic process. Industry experts charge that the government implemented new technology too quickly and without safeguards.

NOW: Block the Vote
Under the guise of preventing voter fraud, several states have passed laws severely restricting voter registration and requiring more identification from voters to cast a ballot. NOW reports that the result has been the disenfranchisement of thousands of voters, among them the elderly, poor and minorities.

Topic Search: Elections

Related Links

More Information on Voter Fraud

Project Vote: Politics of Voter Fraud

Brennan Center for Justice: Comprehensive Resources on Voter Fraud

General Fair Election Resources

People for the American Way: Democracy Campaign

News about Voter I.D. Laws, Voter Purging, Voter Caging: National Campaign for Fair Elections

News about Voting Machines: Electronic Frontier Foundation

What Congress is Doing on Election Reform: National Campaign for Fair Elections