Another LTTE, this one to the AJC

[bunkerbuster1]

should be in print tomorrow. It was in reply to the WaPo's brain-dead pundit who claimed that we shouldn't fret over paperless balloting, since we're ok with electronic banking.

I really kept my anger in check here.

Anne Applebaum's opinion piece (11/19/2004) belittling American anxiety about paperless ballots, manages to inadvertantly feed that very understandable anxiety through its own clumsy analogy.

Applebaum writes that "When the ATM asks whether I want a receipt, I usually say no." Exactly! The point is, the ATM gives an option of a printed receipt. Even if one chooses (foolishly, in my opinion) not to take a receipt from an electronic transaction, one can compare a written statement kept at home versus one available from the bank. There's an audit trail. If something's missing--like, say, a deposit--you can make a case and seek to have the mistake corrected.

If the Diebold systems are manipulated--if the voting "deposit" goes unrecorded--even at the street level, at individual precincts, how would anyone ever know? Where are the checks and balances? Whether you tend to vote Republican or Democrat, Green or Libertarian, it should be an insult to hear someone like Applebaum charge that "American paranoia about computer voting cannot be rational."

Electronic voting systems already exist that provide just such ATM-like assurance. While it's hardly surprising that our political "leadership" hasn't insisted upon their universal application, it's downright depressing to read Washington Post "journalists" who are willing to roll over and accept this status quo.

[pretzel4gore]

1. encouraging bush administration's reckless behavior

the media aren't doing the president any favours by covering for him...they need healthy criticism and correction, just like the clinton administration got (and look at the good job that resulted)

[Laelth]

2. If a bank defrauds you, ...

you can sue them and get your money back. But what happens if your vote isn't recorded by an electronic voting machine? You don't even know you've been defrauded. It's not the same at all.

-Laelth


Edit:Laelth--clarity.

[recovering democrat]

3. Georgia elections

I would like to hear some ideas on making this an issue for the next Georgia elections - Governor? Secretary of State?

I don't like this at all and just happen to be one of those people who ALWAYS takes the receipt at the ATM because I have experienced having to handle corrections to my bank account. They are NOT perfect!

[visionwatcher]

4. What About this....

In order to remove these touch-screen voting machine it may have to be done state by state. According to the Secretary of State site the only voting manufacturer that gave paper trails was TruVote International, Inc.

I'm I wrong or are 12 people along with Election Officer Larry Singer and endorsed by Secretary of State Cox are the ones that are keeping Georgia from paper ballots? If that case, can't we gather those who vote with these machines to pressure these 14 people who decide our voting system.
(Source:http://www.sos.state.ga.us/elections/electronic_voting/faqs.htm)


"Q:How many manufacturers submitted bids and who were they?
A: Nine equipment manufacturers submitted bids. They were: Millennium Year 2000 Solutions, Inc., Unilect Corporation, Compaq Computer Corporation, TruVote International, Inc.(Owner Athan Gibbs), Diebold Election Systems, Inc., Election Systems & Software, Accenture, Shoup Voting Solutions and Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems.


Q: How were the bids evaluated? Who was involved in making the decision?
A:Secretary of State Cox appointed an evaluation committee to review the proposals and recommend the vendor that offered the “best value” solution. The committee spent several weeks evaluating proposals and conducting tests of equipment capabilities. The 12-members committee was comprised of seven employees from the Secretary of State’s office and one each from the Office of Planning and Budget, the Department of Juvenile Justice and the Georgia Technology Authority. In addition, two retired county election superintendents, from Bibb and Fulton Counties, served on the committee. The committee’s recommendation that Diebold be selected was unanimous. The recommendation was reviewed by Georgia’s Chief Information Officer Larry Singer and endorsed by Secretary of State Cox."
(Source:http://www.sos.state.ga.us/elections/electronic_voting/faqs.htm)

During the last election(2002), the GA Senate created by Tom Price(R) proposed the SB500 which would required that voters receive a paper trail. It was blocked by the Democrats in the House. It was supported and still is from the email that I've received from several other political parties which includes Georgia Green Party,Libertarian Party of Georgia,Georgia Independence Party(asking for more volunteers);Constitution Party and the Committee for a United Independent Politics. We should be able to press the Democrats to get on board by explaining how its a bipartisan issue that will benefit all of Georgia.

Sources: http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/fulltext/sb500.htm; http://www.voterchoice.org/; http://www.countthevote.org/;
http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0404/S00021.htm and