Letter to the Editor of the Intelligencer

 

From CVI's Co-Founders

 

October 1, 2006

To the Editor:

 

State Bills were recently introduced with bipartisan support in both the House and Senate, allowing citizens the choice to vote on paper ballots or non-voter-verifiable electronic machines. These Bills were not meant to be symbolic: not just for PR. The need for paper ballots in this election is real. There is considerable evidence coming out almost every week providing data on the inadequacy and insecurity of electronic voting. However, we are stuck with these machines for now. Two short-term options are available:

1. Massive turnout of voters on November 7! This will send a message that citizens want action to improve OUR voting system. Additionally, the higher the voter turnout, the better chance voting machine problems might be identified. For example, it was the high turnout that provided New Mexico with the data that led them to the decision to replace the Danaher machines with optical scanners. Also, your preferred candidate or party could benefit from a high turnout to offset the possibility of lost votes with the new electronic machines.

2. Legislators need to change the currently proposed Bill slightly by eliminating the 30-day training period. People already know how to vote on paper in the form of absentee and provisional ballots.  Counties already have the absentee/provisional ballot layouts to use as a template for paper ballots.  Perhaps add in some funds for printing/counting.  Such an independent paper ballot cast by the voter is part of short-term answer until we can develop a truly independent system of checks and balances.  Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. supports such an emergency measure. . Thirty-five other states require/use voter-verified paper ballots. Why can’t we do this in Pennsylvania?

 

We expect a fairly smooth election—ostensibly at least—with few breakdowns.  The real problem is never seen and is internal to the machines and will take time to identify and correct. Thus, paper ballots offer an interim solution for those who want assurances that their actual ballot is counted and securely retained. It should be a citizen’s choice as to how they vote…machine or ballot.  As long as there is so much doubt about existing machines, we must have this choice.

 

Legislators and candidates should be out there drumming up co-sponsorship for an Emergency Paper Ballot option. With the considerable media attention already on the machine problems, candidates could spread this idea like wildfire across Pa. in time for passage for this election. Citizens are tired of just words. We need action NOW.  If legislators are just going to sit back and not go all out to line up co-sponsors and pass this Bill immediately, then perhaps they should be replaced by those who will better perform on behalf of the people.

 

Mary Ann Gould

Ruth Matheny

Co-Founders, Coalition for Voting Integrity