Legislators Wary of Electronic Voting;requiring paper trail

Definitely require a paper trail. Damn right!
I'm still amazed we don't have to show an ID.

All California Diebold voting machines decertified
All voting machines decertified
But an official says 10 counties might be able to get approval before the November election.
By Jim Sanders -- Bee Capitol Bureau
Published 2:15 am PDT Saturday, May 1, 2004

Saying he is concerned about the reliability of touch-screen voting machines, California Secretary of State Kevin Shelley on Friday decertified every model used in the state but left the door open for 10 counties to win approval prior to the November election.
Shelley's action is intended to force counties and manufacturers to quickly implement nearly two dozen security measures or risk losing their franchises for the upcoming presidential election.

Shelley said doubts about the security and reliability of touch-screen voting have "shaken public confidence."

"It is my job, my foremost responsibility, to take all steps necessary to make sure every vote cast in California will be accurately counted," Shelley said.

Most of the measures ordered Friday were proposed this week by a state advisory panel.

Shelley's sharpest attack was leveled at one manufacturer, Diebold Election Systems, which has installed its controversial TSx system in San Joaquin, Solano, Kern and San Diego counties.

Shelley formally requested that state Attorney General Bill Lockyer consider taking civil and criminal action against Diebold for installing machines that were not properly certified and then lying about their status.

"We will not tolerate deceitful tactics as engaged in by Diebold," Shelley said.

Mark Radke, a Diebold spokesman, could not be reached for comment Friday, but the firm has denied the accusations in the past.

Shelley banned use of the Diebold TSx model outright, meaning the company - unlike its competitors - cannot win recertification this year.

Under Shelley's order, 10 counties that currently have other touch-screen models potentially could use them in November, provided that security measures are implemented that include:

* Giving voters the option to use paper ballots.

* Allowing no connection to the Internet.

* Ensuring that printouts can be made of ballots cast electronically.

* Allowing state officials to participate in technical reviews of randomly chosen machines on Election Day.

* Submitting detailed documents to Shelley about testing, software and inner workings of the machines.

The 10 counties that potentially could offer touch-screen voting on Election Day are Alameda, Merced, Napa, Orange, Plumas, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Clara, Shasta and Tehama.

Counties that do not currently have touch-screen machines will not be able to buy them unless there is a verifiable paper trail.

Kim Alexander of the California Voter Foundation, which has pushed for banning touch-screen voting, was encouraged by Shelley's order.

"Requiring counties to provide voters with what I call the 'paper or plastic' option ensures that those voters who do not have confidence in electronic voting still have the ability to cast a vote with confidence," she said.

But supporters of touch-screen voting expressed doubt that Shelley's conditions are practical.

"On the face, it sounds like a good thing, but I don't think it will work," said Patricia Yeager, executive director of the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers.

If Bush should lose the election, he can go back to his buddies at the Supreme Court claiming the machines were faulty. Of course, Kerry might do the same thing, but he would probably be wasting his time.

probably.