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Voting machines remain hot issue« Thread Started on Oct 22,

Daily newsbrief journal for October 2007, also see http://www.usdemocrats.com/brief for a global 100-page perpetual brief and follow twitter @usdemocrats


Voting machines remain hot issue« Thread Started on Oct 22,

Postby admin » Sun Jan 29, 2012 9:24 am

Voting machines remain hot issue« Thread Started on Oct 22, 2007, 9:40am » --------------------------------------------------------------------------------ELECTION 2007Voting machines remain hot issueAnne Danahyread at source> http://www.centredaily.com/news/local/s ... 0.htmlYour vote has been counted, thank you for voting. The current Board of Commissioners voted 2-1 last year to buy paperless, touch-screen voting machines to comply with state and federal regulations meant to fix problems seen in the 2000 presidential election. The decision, however, has been sharply criticized by those who maintain that voter-verified paper ballots are crucial to election confidence and security. But opinions vary as to what, if any, changes the next board should make when it comes to voting machines. Jim Bowman, judge of elections in a Patton Township precinct, said the touch-screen machines are “90 percent easier” than the punch-cards the county previously used, and free of mistakes. “Truthfully, it’s the greatest invention since peanut butter,” Bowman said before a training class for poll workers. Vonnie Henninger, minority inspector in AdvertisementMiles Township East, said she would like paper backups for the touch-screens. “As long as it works, it’s wonderful,” she said. “There’s certainly a chance that something could happen, and we’d need some backup.” The two commissioners who voted to buy the touch-screen iVotronic machines are running for re-election: Steve Dershem is a Republican nominee, and Chris Exarchos is waging a write-in campaign after losing the second spot on the Republican ballot to Sue Mascolo. Both Dershem and Exarchos defend their decision and say they picked the best option after carefully looking at the choices, testing the touchscreen and paper ballot systems and listening to poll workers, the Elections Office and voters. Exarchos called it a “thoughtful process.” The problem, they say, rests with the state and federal governments, which forced them to get rid of the punch-card ballots the county had been using without problems. The state will not allow the iVotronic system to produce paper printouts, saying it would compromise voter anonymity. (The printout offered by Election Systems & Software’s iVotronic is stored on a continuous reel attached to the machine.) “I think we need to continue the conversation with the state to get the printer system implemented,” Dershem said. “I think it’s important we have a receipt system.” He said a printout that is not attached to the machine in a continuous reel — a continuous printout could theoretically be compared with poll records to determine who cast each vote — could be easily designed. Voters would drop the paper ballot in a box before leaving the polling station. “I’m disappointed the printer was not allowed to go on. I’m sure a lot of the anxiety we see about the machines would go away,” Exarchos said. Some voters and candidates think the county should take action regardless of what happens at the state and federal levels. Democratic nominees Jon Eich and Rich Rogers said the county should have voterverified paper ballots, and that, if elected, they will form a task force to study the issue and make recommendations. “I don’t want to repeat the mistake of the past board by personally picking a system,” Eich said. Right now, optical scans are the only voting machines allowed in Pennsylvania that include paper ballots. Voters use pens to fill in ovals on the card, then feed the ballot into a machine that tabulates them. But, Eich said, the task force could look into other systems that could become certified and different system manufacturers. He said he would like to see the recommendations in place in time for the 2008 presidential election. Rogers said he doesn’t have the answer, but the committee could look at the available options and what is coming down the pipeline. “I will not give up until we have a voter-verified paper trail,” Rogers said. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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