The basis for confidence in our elections has been shattered by suspicious election results in recent years and the current conditions in election systems throughout the nation. Standing For Voters, launching today at StandingForVoters.org, calls upon candidates for public office to prepare now to demand recounts, file lawsuits, or take other actions necessary should election processes or results raise suspicion. We call on candidates to take the “Standing For Voters Pledge.”

Candidates routinely ask voters to stand up for them by donating money, volunteering, casting their votes. Now it’s time for candidates to commit to Standing For Voters. In some states, only candidates have standing to request a recount, yet we’ve seen candidates shy away from challenging even obviously incorrect election results reportedly because they don’t want to be called ’sore losers.’ Signing the Standing For Voters Pledge is a clear way for those who want our votes to tell voters that they care that all votes are counted ‑ and counted accurately ‑ and that they will do everything in their power to ensure that the elections are held to the highest standards.

The site includes information for candidates about various types of election challenges, examples of recent challenges led by candidates, and descriptions of some of the problems that can lead to questionable election results. Tips for voters on how to encourage candidates to sign the pledge can be found there as well. Candidates of any party running for any public office, regardless of party affiliation, can sign the Standing For Voters Pledge at StandingForVoters.org.

This election, let’s make democracy the winner!

Standing For Voters is a project of VelvetRevolution.us.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 27th, 2008 at 10:30 am and is filed under Politics, Civil Rights, Campaign .