Voters in Ohio and other states have made thousands of complaints about obstructed votes, legitimate voters who were disqualified, malfunctioning computer voting machines and other irregularities in the 2004 election, which raise serious questions about the reported results.

The efforts of presidential candidates David Cobb (Green Party) and Michael Badnarik (Libertarian) to effect a recount in Ohio may or may not alter the outcome of the 2004 election. But the recount deserves support because it's the best way to test and begin repairing the integrity of our elections, and to ensure that every vote is counted.

The Green Party has consistently spoken out for the right to vote and the necessity for every vote to be counted, for investigation of obstructed votes and for auditable paper ballot trails to verify all votes cast on computer voting machines. Greens are also campaigning for clean election options, "instant runoff voting," abolition of the Electoral College, and enforcement of the 14th Amendment's guarantee of voting rights.

For those of us in the Green Party, the lesson of the election in 2000 is that we need to fight for the right to vote, for accurate vote counts and for the future of our democracy.

George Plumb Washington Vermont Green Party