Does the Election Center lobby for the voters' or for the interest of the voting industry?

The Fox in the Henhouse Series, Part III

This week a “wolf in sheep’s clothing”, The Election Center, will be in Washington DC in full force to lobby our Congressmen. The Joint Election Officials Liaison Committee, comprised of election administrators associated with a range of professional organizations, will be gathering on the first days of the new legislative session to influence decisions, like they influence the actions and decisions of state election directors across the country.

According to the meeting’s description on the Election Center website:

“We have booked rooms for the nights of January 3- 6, 2007 at the Grand Hyatt Washington, 1000 H St, N.W., Washington, DC, for the next meeting of those elections and registration administrators who wish to be involved on a national level for Congressional liaison and activity with the Federal agencies affecting voter registration and elections at the local level.

Come to Washington to talk directly with Congressional staff about the new legislation. Additionally, we invite the Federal Voting Assistance Program, the Commissioners and staff of the Election Assistance Commission, the U.S. Justice Department and the GAO to present.”

They plan to lobby hard.

It is safe to assume that the Election Center will continue its advocacy of paperless DREs. In May of 2003, R. Doug Lewis of the Election Center widely distributed a letter stating that DREs cannot be tampered with. Lewis's opinion carries a great deal of weight with election officials. As a spokesman, Lewis has steadfastly defended the machines and blamed voters and pollworkers for any election problems.

According to Dr. David L. Dill, of Stanford University, this letter by Lewis demonstrates profoundly disturbing complacency and a serious lack of understanding of computer security, and, indeed, computer technology, by the very organization that is supposed to ensure the integrity of the systems we are worried about.

At its website, the Election Center states this lofty mission statement:

“The Election Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting, preserving, and improving democracy. Its members are government employees whose profession is to serve in voter registration and elections administration.”

"The Election Center" has financial ties to the top 3 voting machine companies: Doug Lewis admits that "The Election Center" received money from Diebold, Sequoia and ES&S as well.

“Corporate Member: $800 per year: Businesses and corporations are offered this level for membership. Corporate members receive all rights and privileges of membership. Corporate members are given one free Associate Member and additional memberships can be provided at $80 each. Corporate members also receive a $500 discount when displaying as exhibitors at the National Conference.”

The Election Center has managed to embed itself in all aspects of our elections, with former Board of Directors and members serving as state and local election officials across the country. Member Donetta Davidson an ardent opponent of voter verified paper ballots, is the incoming Chair of the Election Assistance Commission. Lewis, and several other Election Center members serve on the EAC’s Advisory Board.