Electronic voting resolution for those going to their precinct conventions

[VelmaD]

I recently got a copy of the "Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail" resolution from the Progressive Populist Caucus and I have to say I'm a bit disappointed because it uses that expression instead of "Voter Verified Paper Ballot". So...I rewrote it and I'm offering my version here if anyone is interested in taking it to their precinct convention tomorrow. I'm going to be working here in Travis County to get the revised language passed and could use plenty of help at the State convention on this. Anyway...here it is.
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WHEREAS the Democratic Party is one of just two Political Parties Nominating By Primary Election (Title 10, Subtitle B, Texas Election Code) in Texas;

WHEREAS it exercises inherent powers (Title 10, Section 161.001);

WHEREAS the State Democratic Executive Committee is the general custodian of records for this party (Title 5, Section 66.010); and

WHEREAS the State Democratic Convention is the highest authority of the party in Texas;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the State Democratic Convention duly convened in Fort Worth to conduct such business as shall properly come before it,

1. THAT the people of the TDP direct its leadership, including Chair as well as all Democratic Party County Chairs, to actively and aggressively advocate the inclusion of a voter verified paper ballot with all DRE electronic voting machines in use for all elections and that this paper ballot be the ballot of record for all recounts.

DRAFT REFERED by: (your name)
FINALLY ADOPTED: (date)
SIGNED: (Presiding Officer)
FILED: (convention secretary)

Discussion:
13 Texas Counties have such non-transparent voting machines in use and many more in ’06 will be adding them to comply with HAVA requirements. Aggressive advocacy for this verified voting technology includes proactively communicating this urgent need to all Democratic party officeholders and candidates, especially those in charge of elections, media interviews, public meetings and news releases stating the Party’s continuing demand for a Voter Verified Paper Ballot that is the ballot of record for recounts.
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Share and enjoy :)

[crispini]

1. Hey Velma, is this the one you didn't like?

I really like this one and I'm going to take it, but I was wondering, if this was it, what you didn't like:

A RESOLUTION
IN SUPPORT OF H.R.2239 AND S.1980
WHEREAS the Help America Vote Act of 2002 began a rush by states to purchase new voting technology, and
WHEREAS computer-based systems are subject to errors, breakdowns, and design flaws; computer based systems inherently cannot be secured to the extent required to protect voting integrity; and source code may not be available for public inspection, and
WHEREAS this new voting technology provides no assurance that the voter's vote was recorded as the voter intended, and no means for conducting a meaningful recount of the ballots, and
WHEREAS there is technology available that is fully accessible to individuals with disabilities and also allows voters to verify their paper ballots before they are cast, and
WHEREAS electronic voting machines have proven to be unreliable, since in recent months voters in Fairfax County, VA, Broward County, FL, and elsewhere have had their votes changed on electronic voting machines or not had their votes counted at all on new voting technology, and these problems have resulted in a lawsuit due to the lack of ability to do recounts/audits; and
WHEREAS there are bills in both houses of the United States Congress that will address these problems.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That the ____________ _______endorses the passage of H.R.2239 and S.1980; The Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2003.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT:
Voting systems in Texas be prohibited for purchase by the State and its Counties unless they -
• Incorporate a voter verified physical ballot, deposited at the polling place in a secure ballot box or delivered by the US Postal Service;
• Operate such that the voter is able to void a ballot and cast a new one;
• Maintain the anonymity of the voter; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT:
Elections systems management policies and rules be established in and for Texas and its counties that -
• Establish that physical ballots have precedence over electronic data as the true copy of voter intent for recounts when required by statute or if challenged: and
• Require random checks of the physical ballots against the computer system totals for system audit purposes.

[VelmaD]

4. That's not the one I didn't like...

in fact I like that one better. :)

The one I didn't like is on the Progressive Populist Caucus' webiste. It's essentially the same as what I posted it just used "voter verifiable paper audit trail" instead of "voter verified paper ballot" and it didn't have the bit about the paper being the ballot of record.

But I think I'm gonna scrap mine and go with the one in your post. :)

[crispini]

11. Oh, good, I'm glad there was nothing wrong with it.

Cause we passed it, along with a veritable grab bag of other progressive resolutions. :D

[Melissa G]

10. Success with crispini's resolution at my precinct!

On to Travis County!

[Czolgosz]

2. If you are drafting your own resolutions, here's a good tool kit:

<http://www.citiesforprogress.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20&Itemid=61>

[derby378]

3. I like both resolutions on this thread

Nice going, guys!

[acmejack]

5. Okay, I'm running with it.

Well, in all honesty it is a cross between crawling and hobbling, but I am moving with it. If I start now, I will make it to the end of the block to my Precinct Chairman's house by 8PM tonight!

[Melissa G]

6. Reposted this thread in Election reform forum

Link below...Thanks Crispini and Velma D!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x415973

[katinmn]

7. Hi Texans! We have an election reform resolution, too:

http://www.progressivecaucus.net/

Good luck at your caucuses! Ours are tonught, too.

Whereas, there are serious questions about the security of electronic voting machines and this endangers the integrity of our elections; and

Whereas, a voter verified paper audit trail, random mandatory audits and voting machine software with source code available for public inspection are all essential elements to ensure an accurate counting of the vote whenever electronic voting machines are used; and

Whereas, in Minnesota we have same day registration and new legislation that requires a voter verified paper audit trail, random audits and that voting machine software be put in escrow for third party inspection; and

Whereas, 27 states have passed legislation requiring a voter verified paper audit trail, but many of these states do not require random audits and none require publicly available software source code.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Minnesota DFL Party urges Congress to pass legislation requiring all state to have a voter verified paper audit trail, mandatory random audits, open source software available for public inspection and same day registration.

Background: Insecure voting machines and voting irregularities have eroded confidence in the election process and the accuracy of the vote. In 2004, roughly 30% of the votes were cast on unreliable electronic touch screen voting machines known as DRE's. These DRE's provide no paper ballot that can be verified by the voter. Without proper checks and balances, the scale for potential electronic vote fraud could surpass all opportunities available previously. These concerns about fraud are not simply speculation. A 2003 Johns Hopkins and Rice University computer experts revealed hundreds of security flaws in the software of a leading manufacturer. Other studies confirm these findings.

[VelmaD]

8. That resolution has the same problem...

that made me re-write the one here in Texas. We have to get the words "voter verifiable paper audit trail" out of our vocabulary. Voter Verified Paper Ballot. Verifable just means you could verify it...if they let you. Verified means you the voter DID verify it.

And audit trail is a meaningless term. I'm an auditor by profession and I've yet to talk to an election official about "audit trails" who knew anything at all about actual audit standards and procedures.

So say it with me VOTER VERIFIED PAPER BALLOT that is the ballot of record for ALL recounts.

[katinmn]

9. Ahhh. I see. Will pass this around

Thanks!