Four Years Later, Are Elections Better? Experts Offer National Perspective on Local Reform Efforts 2/9/2004
From: Christy Hicksof The Century Foundation, 212-452-7723 or hicks@tcf.org, or Daniel Seligson of electionline.org, 202-338-9320 or dseligson@electionline.org News Advisory: Thousands of Bay Area voters returning to the polls this year will find much has changed in the way their votes are cast and counted. But will those changes make elections better? Given San Francisco's recent troubled election history, will elections improve or become more complex and more controversial? Will voters statewide trust paperless electronic voting machines in light of the state's directive ordering paper trails by 2006? Experts from The Century Foundation and electionline.org will provide reporters a national perspective on election reform in the Bay Area, and statewide, and discuss how California compares with the rest of the country. They will discuss new federal mandates including voter identification requirements, the controversy over new machines in use all around the Bay Area, and the new rules to help empower voters to file complaints about problems at the polls. They will also discuss the potential problems of under- prepared staff and under-informed voters. WHAT: Press Briefing on the Effect of Federal Election Reform on Bay Area Elections WHEN: 10 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 12 WHERE: San Francisco City Hall, Room 278 Featuring: -- Sean Greene, research coordinator, electionline.org -- Dan Seligson, editor, electionline.org -- Tova Wang, democracy fellow, The Century Foundation Contact: Christy Hicks, hicks@tcf.org, 212-452-7723 or 917- 544-2949 (cell), or Dan Seligson, dseligson@electionline.org, 202-358-9320 or 202-365-5568 (cell) Primary Education: Election Reform and the 2004 Presidential Race, a recently released report from the two organizations, will be available at the press briefing. ------ electionline.org is the nation's only nonpartisan, non-advocacy website providing up-to-the-minute news and analysis on election reform. electionline.org is a centralized source of data and information on reform efforts around the country. It is funded by a grant from The Pew Charitable Trusts administered by the University of Richmond. The Century Foundation conducts public policy research and analyses of economic, social, and foreign policy issues, including inequality, retirement security, election reform, media studies, homeland security, and international affairs. The foundation produces books, reports, and other publications, convenes task forces and working groups, and operates seven informational websites, including the home site, www.tcf.org. With offices in New York City and Washington, D.C., the Century Foundation is nonprofit and nonpartisan and was founded in 1919 by Edward A. Filene. |