To the Editor:
We live in the shadow of William
Penn atop City Hall in Philadelphia
and within a stone’s throw of the Liberty Bell. Here in Bucks County,
we have a special duty, privilege, and responsibility to honor the well-known and loved American principles of our founders.
But will we have accurately elected representatives
to uphold our core American values with the advent of electronic voting machines that have been found to be neither secure
nor accurate? Yes, if a machine is chosen with a voter-checked paper ballot.
About twenty Bucks municipalities,
seven former commissioners, and the Bucks County Association of Township Officials have all signed on to this concept. Yet
there has been no endorsement by our current commissioners. Why?
If there are no touch-screen machines
that are state-certified to produce such paper ballots, the answer is the precinct-based optical scanner that uses voter-marked,
easy-to-recount ballots. Last week the state finally certified the handicapped accessible device that accompanies the optical
scanner. Such an optical scanner is a solid choice for Bucks County
that, most importantly, protects our vote.
To show support not only for the
right machine, but for our vote and thus for democracy, join fellow citizens tonight for an evening of recommitment to our
American principles. Early American Patriot re-enactors will meet 21st century Americans at the courthouse 5:30 and proceed to borough hall at 6 for an open house of conversation, music, fun and educational,
interactive activities.
Stand up and be counted as we protect our
vote, our democracy and our right to representational government.
Ruth E. Matheny, Co-founder
Coalition for Voting Integrity
