Promoted by Steven D.
cross posted in Daily Kos, MyDD, and My Left Wing
Here in Virginia the most determined opposition to paper ballots is coming from the registrars who bought DRE voting machines. Legislators usually defer to registrars because in general they are very knowledgeable about the mechanics of holding elections. In general they are very nice people who care deeply about free and fair elections. The problem that, having bought these machines, they are deeply vested in their decision. They are putting tremendous pressure on legislators and only a massive demonstration of support by constituents will be sufficient to counter their pressure.
I am informed that the version of the voter-verfied voting bill, HB 2707, that passed the House P&E committee was stripped of all of its audit and recount provisions. Audits are an absolutely critical component of this legislation. From the bill summary:
Post-election audits during canvasses & recounts: Audits are a critical step in ensuring the integrity of elections. The bill requires post-election random audits during canvasses of two or five percent of machines based upon population. Machines are audited by comparing a hand count of the paper ballots with the machine totals to check the machine accuracy. In recounts, an additional three percent of machines would be audited. If significant discrepancies are detected, the paper ballots become the ballots of record.
In 2002, post-election audits detected a software error in Wayne County, NC that changed the result of the election. Because Wayne County used optical scan tabulators, the error was detected & remedied. Now North Carolina requires paper trails & audits for all elections.
It is especially important that constituents of Del. Rapp contact her in support of the audit provisions. If you do not live in her district, do not contact her. Contact your delegate and ask them to support voter-verified voting with audit trials. Short, courteous letters are the most effective.
If you do not live in Virginia, please find out what is happening in your state.