The TVCA is a rare-breed among bills because the way in which it was crafted makes it nearly perfect.* Not only does it give Tennessee voters paper ballots that register the voter’s intent BEFORE any machine touches the ballots, but it also requires mandatory hand-counted recounts in a certain percentage of precincts (to make sure the totals from the machines match the actual ballot totals) AND requires that the paper ballots that recorded the voter’s original intent become the ballot of record (incredibly handy in the case of a close election or necessary recount).

So during yesterday’s Senate session, not only did Senator Roy Herron save paper ballots, but he also saved secure and verifiable elections by keeping the strongest bits of the TVCA – mandatory recounts and ballots of record – intact.

Senator Roy Herron: “Electronic voting machines can steal elections. They can steal your election….Yet today we decide whether to jeopardize our 2010 elections by allowing electronic voting machines without paper verification. Machines that are absolutely unreliable and unverifiable.

In Iowa in 2006, an auditor noticed a 20-year incumbent being beaten 10 to 1 by a newcomer, but when she checked the paper vote against the electronic vote, she discovered that the incumbent actually was way ahead of the challenger. This error would not have been caught without a paper trail….

In voting last year here in Tennessee, citizens experienced so-called “vote flipping.” The New York Times reported, “…voters complained that [electronic] voting machines registered their votes for Mr. McCain as votes for Mr. Obama.” How can this happen? Researchers at Princeton discovered it is all too easy to infect voting machines with a virus that, in seconds, can flip vote counts.

All it takes to hack into the electronic machine is a common flash drive. This is why the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations strongly recommended that Tennessee “implement voter-verified paper audit trails statewide.” That is why just last year we passed – and you voted for – the current law. TACIR recommends optical scan machines, like those used by Pickett County and Hamilton County. Hamilton says it is “very satisfied” and “would highly recommend [optical scan systems] to other interested counties.”

But now some say we cannot – or should not – have voter verifiable paper trails in Tennessee in 2010. But counties as large as Hamilton and as small as Pickett have them.

They have them from “sea to shining sea” – from Maine to Hawaii, from Alaska to Florida.

They have them in our neighbors like North Carolina, Missouri, Alabama.

They have them in large states with big cities like New York and California.

They have them in states as rural as the Dakotas, Idaho, West Virginia.

In fact, 33 states – 33 states – currently use or require a voter verifiable paper trail. Why can’t we?

Sure we’ve new Election Commissioners and Registrars, and even a new Coordinator of Elections, but with all this change, what about change we can believe in?

What about elections we can believe in?

*The reason why it’s “nearly perfect” is that in a perfect world we’d be counting all the ballots by hand.

Keep in mind that today you must vote at the polling place listed on your voter registration card. If you can’t find your voter ID card you can find out where you vote, as well as what other forms of ID are acceptable, at Nashville.gov/vote. Or call 862-8800.

The coalition against the English Only Referendum, Nashville For All of Us is impressive and we’ve been fortunate enough to have some of its members on the show to talk to us about the importance of voting against/against. Each interview focuses on the effect the passing of the referendums will have on our guests’ area of expertise, including the law, governance, business, civil rights, and immigration.

You can also read more at NashvilleForAllofUs.org.

The Law
Interview with Nashville attorney Gregg Ramos and Assistant District Attorney Sarah Davis – One defender. One prosecutor. How can they both agree that Councilman Eric Crafton’s English Only amendment is not a good idea for Nashville? [37.9 MB 23:37 download MP3]
Download audio file (liberadio20081222part2davisramos.mp3)

Governance
Interview with Councilwoman at large Megan Barry. Councilwoman Barry sheds some light on how Councilman Eric Crafton’s English Only amendment would negatively affect the governing of the city of Nashville. It’s not pretty. [38.3 MB 23:52 download MP3]
Download audio file (liberadio20090105part2meganbarry.mp3)

Business
Interview with Tom Negri. Tom is the Managing Director of Loews Vanderbilt Plaza Hotel, on the board of the Chamber of Commerce, and a founding member of Nashville’s Coalition For Education About Immigration. He knows real immigration reform and what’s good for business and Councilman Eric Crafton’s English Only referendum is neither. [40.2 MB 25:04 download MP3]
Download audio file (liberadio20090112part2tomnegri.mp3)

Immigrants and Immigration
Interview with Stephen Fotopolus. Stephen is the Executive Director of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition and has some very enlightening thoughts on the immigrant community in Nashville and the effects the English Only referendum will have on them and us. If you’re not sure how to vote, we’re positive that Stephen’s measured and well-thought out ideas will help you decide. [37.5 MB 23:25 download MP3]
Download audio file (liberadio20090119part3stephenfotopolus.mp3)

Civil Rights
Interview with Rev. Jim Lawson – Rev. Lawson, civil rights icon, Distinguished Professor at Vanderbilt, and a most thoughtful human being, weighs in on the need to continue to teach the principles of nonviolence; the similarities and differences between the civil rights struggles of various communities (women, African-Americans, gays, etc.); and Nashville’s English Only referendum. [35 MB 21:52 download MP3]
Download audio file (liberadio20081208part2jimlawson.mp3)

Part 1 – 1 Day, 3 Hours, 52 minutes, and 12 Seconds – It truly is The Best Week Ever!â„¢ and not only because our BackwardsBush.com Countdown keychain is almost obsolete. All the hope, friendly good-fellowship, giving, celebration, and participatory democracy in the air is making us woozy – but totally in a good way! Visit USAservice.org, pic2009.com, NashvilleForAllofUs.org, VolunteerNashville.com, thenashvillefreepress.com, and Nashville.gov/vote. [18.6 MB 11:36 download MP3]
Download audio file (liberadio20090119part1.mp3)
Part 2 – Interview with Rev. Enoch Fuzz. Rev. Fuzz is the Senior Pastor of the Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church and one of the chairs of The Music City USA President’s Inauguration Day Charity Ball–the first ever in Nashville–which will be held Tuesday night, 1/20/09, at 7 pm, at the Millennium Maxwell House Hotel. (Tickets still available at volunteernashville.com). Rev. Fuzz has plans not just tomorrow night but for our future as well and he joins a growing list of impressive Nashvillians who will help lead us out of the past. [21.6 MB 13:28 download MP3]
Download audio file (liberadio20090119part2enochfuzz.mp3)
Part 3 – Interview with Stephen Fotopolus. Stephen is the Executive Director of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition and has some very enlightening thoughts on the immigrant community in Nashville and the effects the English Only referendum will have on all of us. If you’re not sure how to vote, we’re positive that Stephen’s measured and well-thought out ideas will help you decide. [37.5 MB 23:25 download MP3]
Download audio file (liberadio20090119part3stephenfotopolus.mp3)
Part 4 – Against/Against on Thursday, January 22 – We’ve devoted a lot of air time to the vote against the English Only referendum and we’re not going to stop now with only three days before the election. Learn why Councilman Eric Crafton made the New York Times print a retraction, why he bailed on a locally televised TV debate against David Briley, and why he’s hiding the referendum’s funding source (hint: it’s because they’re not based in Nashville and have serious credibility problems). Seriously, it’s enough to put a serious damper on The Best Week Ever!â„¢ [28.2MB 17:37 download MP3]
Download audio file (liberadio20090119part4.mp3)
Part 5 – Ken Whitehouse, State Political Correspondent – The Oscar Madison of Tennessee political reporting (not sure if he’s messy, lives with a man, or likes sports – but he does wear a baseball cap!) joins us to give us the play by play of last week’s opening day shenanigans in the General Assembly. Is newly minted Speaker of the House Kent Williams really the devil? Will he stay a Republican? What happened while House Republicans prematurely celebrated their victory? And what about those pesky constitutional officers? [36.6MB 22:50 download MP3]
Download audio file (liberadio20090119part5kenwhitehouse.mp3)
Part 6 – 1 Day, 2 Hours, 11 Minutes, and 18 Seconds – More fun with Ken and one last plea to get out and vote Against/Against on Thursday. Do it to honor the memory of Dr. King, to celebrate the inauguration of Hope and Change, and to ensure that when we wake up on Friday, this really was The Best Week Ever!â„¢ [23.5MB 14:41 download MP3]
Download audio file (liberadio20090119part6.mp3)

Bumpers
Independence Day – Martina McBride
Last Splash – The Breeders
I Can’t Wait – Nu Shooz
Lovely Day – Bill Withers
American Land – Bruce Springsteen
This Land is Your Land – Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings
Fanfare for the Common Man – Aaron Copeland

Guest Playlist
Punk Rock from Whitehouse – A Playlist by Ken Whitehouse

Today, a broad coalition of Nashville’s citizens, community leaders, and business owners launched NashvilleForAllofUs.org, the beginning of the movement to urge the residents of Davidson County to vote against the English-only Metro Charter amendment. At NashvilleForAllofUs.org you can find out more information about the coalition, sign up to volunteer and spread the word, and contribute to their work to defeat this referendum.

Liberadio(!) is part of the coalition, and on Monday we had a lengthy discussion with one of our regular listeners who thought the “English-Only” Charter Amendment was a good idea [Listen]. We, obviously, do not.

Here is what the amendment proposes:

English is the official language of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee. Official actions which bind or commit the government shall be taken only in the English language, and all official government communications and publications shall be in English. No person shall have a right to government services in any other language. All meetings of the Metro Council, Boards, and Commissions of the Metropolitan Government shall be conducted in English. The Metro Council may make specific exceptions to protect public health and safety. Nothing in this measure shall be interpreted to conflict with federal or state law.

The amendment, which is clearly “English-only” and not “English-first,” is excessive, inefficient, and dangerous.

Excessive because Tennessee state law already codifies English as the “official and legal language” of our state. Inefficient because the translation of essential documents by Metro agencies makes the bureaucracy run more smoothly for all residents. Dangerous because the ability of Nashville government to communicate with all city residents, especially those who might have important information to share with government officials, is essential for public safety.

Nashville has always been known to business leaders, students, and the many visitors that our tourism industry relies on as an inclusive community. This amendment will discriminate against all foreign-born people who visit or come to live or study here, including refugees who have come to this country to escape discrimination. Ironic, ain’t it?

Some important facts:

• On August 7 , 2008, the Metro Council voted 25-8 urging voters to oppose an English-only charter amendment. Mayor Dean himself addressed the council: “I wanted to take this time, this opportunity to make sure my voice, as mayor of this city, is heard on this issue, and to assure that everyone fully understands the consequences of passing a law that will tie our hands in the global economy, that will detract from our appeal as an international tourist destination, and that will damage our reputation as a welcoming and friendly city.”
• According to the Nashville Chamber of Commerce, Japanese investment alone in Tennessee exceeded $9.4 billion in 2004, creating over 40,000 jobs.
• Research indicates that 98% of Latinos think it is “essential” that their children learn English. In fact, 80% of foreign-born children from Mexico learn English “well” or “very well,” and 92 percent of second-generation Latinos are fully fluent in English. By the third generation, only 28% of Latinos are still proficient in Spanish. (Migration Policy Institute).
• Immigrants are required to learn English before they become U.S. citizens (exceptions include older immigrants). While they are learning English and going through the long citizenship process, they must still interact with government agencies.
• There are over 45,000 foreign-born individuals in Davidson County who are still working towards their citizenship.
• According to the Davidson County Election Commission, January’s special election to decide the fate of this ballot initiative will cost Nashville taxpayers approximately $350,000 to $500,000. This during a time when Metro is being forced to take a good, hard, long look at our budget and make necessary cuts.

So in the midst of all that Holiday cheer you’ll be spreading with your giftees and your parties, think about what makes Nashville unique as a city in Tennessee and what we’ll lose if this amendment passes. And then take the time to tell your friends – in between cups of holiday cheer, of course – to get out and vote.

Vote against the “English-Only” referendum on January 22, 2009. Early voting begins on January 2, 2009. Last day to register to vote in this election is December 23, 2008. Call the Davidson County Election Commission for more information at 615-862-8800.