Congressman Sues, Wants Voting Machines To Create Paper Printouts

WKMG Local 6 ^ | January 17, 2004 | AP

[XHogPilot]

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- A congressman pushing to require electronic voting machines to produce a paper trail is taking his case to the courts.

U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler, a Boca Raton Democrat, filed a lawsuit Friday in Palm Beach County against Florida Secretary of State Glenda Hood and Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Theresa LePore, claiming the officials are violating their duties to ensure votes are counted accurately by not using machines with paper printouts.

Wexler, who said he wrote Hood and LePore over the issue several months before he filed the suit, wants printed duplicates of all ballots cast on the electronic voting machines used in 15 Florida counties. He said this is the only way to accurately recount ballots in a close race, and guarantee fair elections.

Elections supervisors across the state oppose spending more money on the machines, saying the voting systems can already provide a paper record of each person's vote.

Hood's office didn't return a call seeking comment Saturday. The answering machine at the Palm Beach County elections office did not accept messages.

Wexler is not the only one focusing on the voting machines. Last week's special election for Florida House District 91, which is split between Broward and Palm Beach counties, fed the debate over the need for an official paper trail.

Ellyn Bogdanoff won that election by 12 votes, but there were 134 undervotes, or ballots that did not register a choice for any candidates.

Because all but the absentee ballots in that election were electronic, officials could not conduct a traditional manual recount. That prompted Palm Beach County commissioners to ask the state for the authority to retrofit touch screen voting machines so they produce paper ballots - at a cost of $2.2 million.

To some extent, the debate has broken down along party lines. Many Democrats say a paper ballot is necessary to ensure the accuracy of the vote, while Republicans largely oppose the idea.

"I think there is heightened sensitivity among Democrats because we were the victims last time," said Chris Griffin, a Tampa lawyer who was the regional chairman of the Gore-Lieberman campaign for West Central Florida. "If the roles were reversed, you'd have a reversal in sensitivity."

Wexler said his suit isn't based on partisan issues.

"There is nothing Democratic about it, and there is nothing Republican about it. This is as American as apple pie," he said.

Lepore said there's no simple fix that will satisfy all constituent groups. She said some people question what language the printouts would be in, and advocates for the blind argue printouts would erase the benefits of the electronic machines' audio features, which let blind voters cast secret ballots.

In addition, LePore said the counties require state approval to add the printing devices.

"It's not as easy as going to Office Depot and buying printers," LePore said.

Sequoia Voting Systems, which supplied the voting machines used in Palm Beach County, plans to seek federal certification for a printer by the end of March. Federal certification is required before state certification.

Kurt Browning, Pasco County elections supervisor and Legislative Committee chairman for the state elections supervisors association, said the organization opposes printers.

"We just don't see the need for it," Browning said. "These counties have spent millions and millions of dollars on voting systems."

Though he said some people would be more confident in the voting system if there were a paper record, Browning said it was a question of "spending millions of dollars to keep a relatively small number of people happy."

[XHogPilot]

Can't say anything good about Wexler or PB county, but the idea is sound.

[mewzilla]

I'd want a receipt.

[Puppage]

Hey, ya throw in Motor Voter down there and start get'n the illegal vote, too.

[stylin19a]

Ellyn Bogdanoff won that election by 12 votes, but there were 134 undervotes, or ballots that did not register a choice for any candidates.

undervotes ? it's my understanding that these were 134 ballots where the vote was not cast(i.e....the voter didn't hit a button that recorded the votes)..hence these are not votes...period.

I wonder how a recount would work or how it would be done without a paper ballot ?

[theDentist]

And there are no worries about what to do if the ink runs out, 'cause they've so much experience in examining pregnant chads, they can do the same on the piece of paper. And when in doubt, it's Democrat.

[sirshackleton]

I think we should just go back to the old paper and pencil....you clearly write the name of the candidate you wish to cast a vote for on a piece of paper and stick it in the ballot box. It creates its own paper trail and if you can't spell or at least somehow indicate the name of the guy/gal you want to vote for, well, you've got bigger problems than whether your vote will count or not.

[Political Junkie Too]

Browning said it was a question of "spending millions of dollars to keep a relatively small number of people happy."

This [having a paper trail] is a sentiment that will only continue to grow. This person will be behind the trend in short order.

-PJ

[steve50]

Sad day when democrats are the only ones supporting a verifiable vote. Why are most republicans saying wait till 06 to require a paper trail? It's not rocket science to add a printer to these things, and the plan to discourgae it by running the cost up has been exposed so it shouldn't be a problem.

Only way to be assured of your vote being tallied correctly seems to be to vote absentee.

[OneTimeLurker]

"Browning said it was a question of "spending millions of dollars to keep a relatively small number of people happy."

No, it's about spending millions to better insure a fair election.

[BluSky]

We get receipts with any other register transaction, why not with a voting machine. Duh!

What nimrods would design a voting machine without the ability to document who one votes for in case of an error?!

[trad_anglican]

I wonder how a recount would work or how it would be done without a paper ballot ?

This is an excellent question. If voting is done electronically then there is no need for a recount. Any recount that came up with a number different from the first count would be a guarantee that someone had tampered with the data.

[punster]

Wexler is a nut case. Perhaps, he should change his name to Robert Whacko.

[Lunatic Fringe]

Absolutely- The idea of an "electronic" ballot must have originated in the DNC war room. You *must* have a paper trail for a valid election.

[Elliott Jackalope]

I agree. This whole "electronic voting machine" thing gives me the willies. It's just too easy for someone to gimmick the system. Give me old-fashioned paper ballots any time.

One possible compromise that might make sense would be to have electronic machines that produce a paper ballot, which would be printed out in plain English, and after being reviewed by the voter would be placed in a ballot box. This way the ballots would all be clearly printed out, leaving little room for misinterpretation. The votes could then be easily electronically tallied by both the voting machines themselves, and by seperately scanning the paper ballots. Just to keep everyone honest, have a different company/entity tabulate the paper ballots.

[blackdog]

I've never cared much for Wexler's party, but he does seem to be a hard working, honest guy.

I think that his concerns have merit and would best serve both parties, which happen to serve the voters.

[XHogPilot]

"I've never cared much for Wexler's party, but he does seem to be a hard working, honest guy."

Wexler sounds too much like our Calif wacko Waxman to keep 'em straight.

[blackdog]

Wexler is a very frugal man when it comes to his lifestyle, his attitude about spending, and his list of "A" friends within the Democrat Party.

Too bad he got Bubba stink all over him.

[Dionysius]

He matriculates under the banner of the party that's given us abortion on demand. Ergo, he is by definition pond scum.

[genefromjersey]

I agree !

[brooklin]

When I saw your name, I thought that you might have flown hueys. I forgot about the warthogs., sorry.
I think that the Hogs are one of the most useful plane that the usaf has got. Too bad that the leadership doesn't want them.