On December 12, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Ca) and U.S. House members Robert Wexler (D-Fl) and Rush Holt (D-NJ) said they will try to pass a bill in 2007, outlawing vote-counting machines that don’t create a paper trail. Senator Feinstein said her bill would include another provision, making it illegal for elections officials to engage in campaign activities for partisan candidates other than themselves. However, generally Congress has no authority over non-federal elections, so it is not clear how this would be constitutional.
If Congress gives money to the states for something then they can attach conditions and rules to it.
This is how the drinking age got raised to 21. So they could — I think — attach it to something to do with the Help American Vote Act or something like that.
Any news for ND or MN?
I totally support a paper trail as all reasonable people should. It is the only way that we can insure the validity of our elections.