Grassroots Washington works to restore the free and fair elections that are indispensable to political freedom by cleaning up the system and changing the broken status quo. Our actions will not encourage political party preferences, a re-vote, or the recall of elected officials. These issues are being dealt with in other arenas. But Grassroots Washington will work to:

  • convince the legislature to force implementation of existing federal and state laws and administrative rules,
  • impact the Governor’s Task Force on Elections, whose report is due March 1, 2005, and
  • push for election reforms prior to any potential re-vote.

Achieving our goal requires citizen involvement at many levels: attendance at legislative hearings and task force meetings; writing letters to the editor; talking with media, etc. Will you help us?

ACTION ITEM: We need all Grassroots Washington members to call the U.S. Attorney for Western Washington, John McKay, and request he call a federal grand jury. Be specific and be polite. Ask McKay to convene a grand jury to investigate the complaints filed by members of the King County Council and the Evergreen Freedom Foundation. His number is 206-553-7970.

*NOTE: McKay’s office has been telling Grassroots WA members that he lacks the authority to convene a grand jury. This is not true! EFF called the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., and got the specific statute (28 US Code 547 and 9-11-241) that grants him the authority.

In the meantime, anyone who has any specifics on voter fraud, needs to contact EFF as soon as possible with details. We need specific facts. We will be filing an additional complaint with the FBI. If you have specific information, please contact Jonathan Bechtel at 360.956.3482/jbechtel@effwa.org.

Our message should be clear. We want the state to:

  1. Require that by December 30, 2005, the state conduct a 100% new registration with people required to register in their legal name and show proof of citizenship and a birth certificate. In war-torn Iraq, they were able to accomplish this in 45 days.
  2. Require photo and signature Identification before a voter can vote.
  3. Require state and local election officials to implement the 2002 Federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA) and the 2003 Legislative changes.

You can download our list of legislative recommendation here:
EFF's election reform recommendations to the legislature


Standing Action Items:

1. Write letters to your local newspaper editors. Get the ideas out there. Let people know you’re aware of what’s going on and you expect state officials to answer to citizens. Newspaper links

2. Call your local talk radio shows. Washington Radio Stations

3. Call the Washington State Legislative Hotline: 1-800-562-6000 or look up your legislators online. Ask them to support EFF's election reform recommendations.

4. Contact Secretary of State Sam Reed and let him know that you expect him to do his job and secure a fair and lawful election. Call (360) 902-4151 or email sreed@secstate.wa.gov.

5. Consider making a financial contribution to EFF to support our defense of the rule of law.