ORIGINS OF PSEPHOS
Psephos, inspired by the traditions of democracy, is an emerging nonprofit committed to preventing the rise of unchecked power in the United States. Psephos advocates a return to transparent, secure, verifiable elections where paper ballots are counted by the people.
Ancient Greek citizens cast their votes with pebbles and psephos (the Greek word for stone, pronounced sea-foss) came to mean a ballot or vote. Notably, Greece transitioned from a monarchy to democracy by creating the first constitution based on democratic principles around 502 B.C. More than two millennia later the U.S. Constitution and our young democracy are threatened by the use of electronic voting systems, secret vote counting and lack of rigorous public oversight.
ABOUT PSEPHOS
Psephos is a nonprofit firm whose services support educational, policy development and litigation efforts related to election integrity, constitutional law and the law and values of democracy. As a nonpartisan organization, Psephos does not support political parties but defends the rights that make political parties possible.The Psephos mission is to preserve the rights of the people of the United States to observe, question and actively participate in vote counting and all other aspects of their elections. Formed in April 2007 Psephos is based in San Diego, California.
Incorporation of Psephos, Inc., is pending. Tax-exempt status under 501(c)(3) is pending.
Profiles of Psephos Founders
Attorney Ken Karan, Esq., was co-counsel in the high profile San Diego election contest (Jacobson v. Bilbray). Notably, this is the only case cited in the official OSCE/ODIHR international election observers' report for the 2006 Election in the USA. Karan also filed writs in support of voters' rights to obtain paper ballots and to be informed of that right at the polling place. Karan drafted the Psephos supported complaint to the California Secretary of State reporting various election law violations by the San Diego County Registrar of Voters office and demanding an investigation. Karan has an active law practice focused on representing the rights and interests of individuals who have been damaged because of the negligence or other illegal behavior of others. His scope of practice includes election integrity, civil rights, medical and dental malpractice, wrongful termination and prisoner rights. Prior to entering the practice of law, Karan had a successful 15 year career as helicopter pilot including work for the World Health Organization in West Africa and aeromedical transports for the University Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona. Karan attended law school at the University of Arizona.
