Lugar's response email re: BBV and S.1980

[LynzM]

I wrote to Lugar last week (Thursday?), and today received the following:

Dear Ms. Morahn:

Thank you for contacting me.

I appreciate knowing of your interest in the integrity of our elections and the reliability of the machines we use to cast our ballots.

On April 11, 2002, the Senate overwhelmingly passed the Equal Protection of Voting Rights Act with my support by a vote of 99-1. This legislation establishes grant programs to help states replace voting equipment and make improvements in election administration. Technology and the Internet have brought many new opportunities for citizens to be informed and participating members of our democracy. Some states have explored the idea of facilitating voting through the use of Internet technology.

While technology holds some potential to help the system, I agree with you that any changes involving advanced technological means must include appropriate high security measures to prevent vote fraud. For this reason I have been supportive of measures in the Senate that would ensure that local and state governments would receive the full amount of funding authorized by the statute so as to ensure states are able to procure the most secure electoral machines.

S. 1980, the Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2003, proposes that a paper copy be made so that a permanent paper record is created for the purposes of a re-count. The legislation also calls for upgrading the entire electioneering system by the November 2004 general election. While I support this goal, I am uncertain as to whether it is practically feasible to require states and other local governments to modernize all of their equipment in time for the November election. Even if additional money were allocated, there are still a number of questions on how such a system would work. For instance, important consideration must be given to how such a system would create a paper record. Would voters be given receipts? What information would a receipt provide? Would a voter be able to verify their vote? Is the technology available to support such a system? How would a state convert their current system to comply with the mandated guidelines? What are the costs? I believe that most of these questions can be worked out as this bill is considered through the Senate Rules Committee and moved onto the Senate Floor. I will be closely following the progress of this issue.

Thank you, again, for contacting me and sharing your insights.

Sincerely,



Richard G. Lugar
United States Senator



Thoughts/ideas to include in my response?

[OneBlueSky]

1. in other words, "Forget it" . . . not in time for THIS election! . . . n/t

.

[LynzM]

2. I know, frustrating

I will keep writing to him (and Bayh), though. I will send him answers I get from DU. I will email links to articles they should read. I will continue to doubt that it will make any difference, but I will still do it. Because then I will know I did something, which is better than giving up.