HCPB Implementation Strategy 2007« Thread Started on Jan 5, 2007, 4:35pm » --------------------------------------------------------------------------------January 3, 2007 at 06:10:47HCPB Implementation Strategy 2007by Rady Ananda read at source> http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne ... g.htmWhile machine advocates try to justify electronic voting, even going so far as to add yet another electronic gadget (assuring us this is the magic bullet that will fix all our electronic voting system "glitches"), here's a less expensive, common sense strategy for 2007.1. Require the Secretary of State to order each county that purchased DREs to prepare to implement a hand-counted paper ballot (HCPB) system by January 1, 2008.2. Have each set of County Commissioners send a letter to all printers in their county seeking an estimate to print paper ballots, and asking them to submit a written protocol on chain of custody, so that the ballots printed are all accounted for at every moment from production to delivery to the Board of Elections. 3. Choose the printer according to most secure protocol, by reputation for quality and integrity, and then by cost. Each county is limited to using a local printer, and this will boost the local economy. 4. Train all counting team poll workers in the "sort and stack by candidate" method of counting, as used in New Hampshire. Train all poll workers in chain of custody protocol and other election procedures.5. Limit poll worker shifts to an 8-hour maximum. Bring in a fresh team to count the ballots at the end of the day, at the polling site. Use people from different political parties on each counting team. Allow the public to observe.6. Reconcile the ballots with the signatures and prepare a final reconciliation, signed by all poll workers who agree with the reported results. Have the presiding judge (the poll worker supervisor for each precinct) report the results immediately, to the room, to the Board of Elections, and by posting a copy of the results at the precinct.7. Have two people from different political parties deliver the ballots, once they've been security-sealed, to the Board of Elections, along with other election materials. Those ballots stay sealed until a recount, or until otherwise legally opened for public inspection.Printers across the State would be delighted and honored to be selected for their county. An added bonus to this plan is that it is far more credible that ballots are printed in a decentralized way, instead of having one company supply the entire state. Another benefit is that selecting one printer per county will boost the economy for more of Ohio's citizens than the number who benefit from using a single printer. Decentralization benefits the majority.