Holt Bill Is A Change In Direction

The "Holt Bill", concerning electronic voting and election integrity, has a long history. I wrote this on a blog in 2007:

I have been trying to figure out why some in the EI movement do not want to talk about S 559 and the real HR 811. The more I read up on it, I think their reasons are nefarious. Take a look at the Thomas page on S 559:

S.559 Title: A bill to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require a voter-verified permanent paper ballot under title III of such Act, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Nelson, Bill [FL] (introduced 2/13/2007) Cosponsors (None) Related Bills: H.R. 811 Latest Major Action: 2/13/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

(Thomas, emphasis mine). And in like manner, look at the lead Thomas page on HR 811:

There are 2 versions of Bill Number H.R.811 for the 110th Congress 1 . Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2007 (Introduced in House)[H.R.811.IH] 2 . Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2007 (Reported in House)[H.R.811.RH]

(Thomas, emphasis mine). There are TWO VERSIONS of HR 811, not one. Thomas also says:

H.R.811 Title: To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require a voter-verified permanent paper ballot under title III of such Act, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12] (introduced 2/5/2007) Cosponsors (216) Related Bills: S.559 Latest Major Action: 5/16/2007 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 91. House Reports: 110-154

(Thomas, emphasis mine). Why is it so scary to include S 559 and both HR 811 RH, and HR 811 IH n what poses as comprehensive discussions? Isn't it deceptive to tell only 1/3 of a three-part story as if it was the whole story? To talk about only one chapter of a book as if it was the whole book, when there are actually three chapters? Especially when HR 811 RH is "an amendment in the nature of a replacement" to the original HR 811 IH, and if HR 811 RH is not passed, the better text in HR 811 IH will prevail? The Election Integrity movement should have high integrity if it is to be respected more than political hacks are respected.

(Dredd 2007). That Bill is still being discussed years later in a recent article in the NY Times, since the election integrity movement through infighting has contributed to inhibiting its passage. Gerrymandering is also still being ignored even though it is also a threat to election integrity. UPDATE: Brad Blog is noted for its opposition to the Holt Bill in both past and current incarnations. Some of the bloggers there disagree and think that the Holt Bill is an improvement over the status quo. The discussion over there is much improved this time.