E-Voting : US Senator Hillary Clinton calls for paper trail for electronic voting -PALM BEACH

Politics ^ | 3/15/04

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Councillor Gerry Breen today pointed to the situation of 2 prominent US senators (Hillary Clinton and Bob Graham) calling for a paper trail of the electronic voting while Cullen & company drive blindly on. "The setting up of a commission whose focus is solely on the secrecy and accuracy of the Nedap/Powervote system and excludes the Ombudsman is merely a cynical exercise in diversion.A full review of Electronic Voting is required now" Breen concludes.

(See report below) Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Bob Graham called Wednesday for a paper trail to back up Electronic Voting throughout the country.

The Democratic senators told reporters a bill they have drafted calls for every jurisdiction to have machines that produce paper records that would enable recounts.

They pointed to recent Electronic Voting glitches that they said underscore the need for the change to restore citizen confidence in voter systems.

"Yesterday in Palm Beach County, Florida, the 'oops' factor again reared its ugly head, casting doubt in the minds of many Floridians about whether or not their vote was actually counted," Graham said.

"An error on the part of poll workers pressing the wrong button to activate voting machines prevented many from voting in the Democratic primaries."

Graham represents Florida, which held its presidential preference primary Tuesday. Balloting problems in that state four years ago put the presidential election in dispute until it was resolved by the U.S. Supreme Court.

He pointed out that after vote counting "irregularities" in Bay County, officials there were able to pursue a recount because they were still operating with the old paper-ballot system.

"These problems raise the fundamental issue of a citizen's confidence in the voting process," Graham said.

"And that's what this bill is all about: assuring that each and every voter can have confidence in our elections and that when problems do arise, there can be a determination made about them -- what went wrong and how to correct it so that every vote is counted."

There should be a paper trail as there is with an ATM machine, air tickets and gas pumps, he said.

"We should listen to what our citizens are saying about their preference and provide the same" kind of paper trail for voting.

Saying they are addressing citizen concerns on voting, the senators said the issue isn't partisan.

"We have to restore trust in our voting and have to do it now before elections in November," said Clinton, the former first lady who represents New York.

She said that on Election Day at least 50 million voters will vote on touch-screen machines, and it is imperative they be able to verify their ballot through paper records.

She said money must be channelled quickly to states to help them implement the procedure.

"We know how to give a record for an electronic transaction. This legislation will ensure that voters will be able to verify a paper ballot that accurately reflects their intentions, and that will be locked away and will be the official ballot in the event of a recount," Clinton said.

Clinton raised the issue of security and said tests have shown that electronic systems are "vulnerable to hacking." She said the software has to be appropriate and manufacturers have to adhere to safety standards.

[steve50]

This is getting bad, now I find myself agreeing with Hillery on an issue.

[TrueBeliever9]

E-Voting and Hillary Clinton! BEWARE America! Treachery is afoot!

[tkathy]

Not to have a paper trail is absolute idiocy for both sides.

[philetus]

Hitlery is worried e-voting will go away.

[alloysteel]

Horrors! Now the Democrats will have to learn NEW ways to defraud the election results. Do you realize the huge amount of effort that will be needed to break into and stuff the ballot boxes now that they are electronic rather than paper ballots?

[boxerblues]

"Yesterday in Palm Beach County, Florida, the 'oops' factor again reared its ugly head, casting doubt in the minds of many Floridians about whether or not their vote was actually counted," Graham said.
"An error on the part of poll workers pressing the wrong button to activate voting machines prevented many from voting in the Democratic primaries."

oops my butt

[JOE6PAK]

Be afraid....be VERY afraid!

[Let's Roll]

DITTO!

[hope]

Yes, Hillary would know about disappearing paper trails...

[steve50]

Hitlery is worried e-voting will go away.

Ahh, and just how did you arive at that opinion from the article? The Dems are calling for a ballot that can be verified. Why would republicans object to a paper trail?

[Reactionary]

The only reason Hillary would want a paper trail is to create problems come the election.

You can bet on that.

[jackbill]

This is getting bad, now I find myself agreeing with Hillery on an issue.

Time for you to reconsider. A "paper trail" for a touch-screen system is nothing but a placebo.

Any self-respecting middle school hacker can design you a "voting system" that prints out one thing and sends out another.

[steve50]

Any self-respecting middle school hacker can design you a "voting system" that prints out one thing and sends out another.

And the printed ballots could be checked against the electronic tally to verify, and people could be sent away for a long time if manipulation is found. The fact that politicians are fighting a paper trail is a sign somethings dirty. How would you like it if someone like Soros bought out the machine suppliers?

[freeperfromnj]

I don't think it's counting the votes for Kerry she's worried about.

[JamesA]

Hillary reminds me of my x-wife and I didn't like her either.

[steve50]

The only reason Hillary would want a paper trail is to create problems come the election.

The problems are already there. Elections without verification are not elections.

[not-alone]

This is another issue we are letting the other side control the spin. Palm Beach and Broward counties have been controlled by the Democrats for a long time. Yet the news complaining about this is all coming from the other side. I was very unhappy when I used the touch screen machines in PBC, but the problem I had has been fixed. However they ever election there has continued to have problems. Several times there has been no explanation for people going to the polls to vote on single issues and lots of no votes. After several elections having been held now with these machines , why is there still a problem with people pushing the wrong button. I don't buy it.
Kerry has said he is already setting up team there. Something is up.

[proud American in Canada]

At first I agreed with her too--but then I had to reconsider, since Hillary supports it.

Why would she want a paper trail? So that they can go to court and force a hand recount, to force people to go through the "paper trail."

Billions of dollars are transferred every day by electronic means. Electronic voting is safer and more reliable than the dimpled, pregnant, and hanging chad.

[twigs]

I'm always suspicious of anything Hill wants, but I know that I don't want electronic machines that do not have paper trails. I'll be interested to see what issues emerge from this. However, I WANT paper trails.