Keep an Eye on Pennsylvania - The Feds are trying to Ban Paper Ballots..

[Junkdrawer]

State Supreme Court to hear voting systems argumentsAssociated Press

PITTSBURGH - State attorneys argue that it would be an impossible task for counties to arrange referendums and get voter approval of new federally required voting machines and still have time to buy the machines before the May 16 congressional primary.

The state Supreme Court scheduled oral arguments Wednesday in Pittsburgh in the dispute about the voting systems. The state Constitution requires a referendum before a county can change its voting system, and Judge Dan Pellegrini of the Commonwealth Court had sided with a group of voters in ruling that Westmoreland County could not get around that requirement.

In their appeal, lawyers for the state maintain that the requirement is overridden by a federal law banning old-fashioned lever and punch-card systems from federal elections.

Pellegrini suggested using the old machines for state and local offices and paper ballots for the congressional primary. But Assistant U.S. Attorney General Wan J. Kim said paper ballots wouldn't comply with a requirement that polling places be accessible to the disabled.


http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/news/politics/13986637.htm

[RagingInMiami]

1. There's not enough time?

They're acting as if this issue just came up. It's the same old excuse before every election.

"Oh, there's simply not enough time to replace the machines."

[napi21]

2. WHY don't paaper ballots comply with the accessibility issue?

I don't understand. I can see the gripe if they were talking about the old voting machines because I voted using them for years, and you really do need to be able to stand up to reach the top levers, but PAPER???

[Junkdrawer]

4. They really, really, really want those touch screens....

Glass is less transparent...

[napi21]

6. Well, I don't know where in PA. that article is talking about, but

I know Allegheny County (Pittsburgh area) just OK'd the Sequoia voting machines either Friday or Monday this week. The description I heard was at least better than DiBold!

[Junkdrawer]

8. all eyes turn to this ruling...if it works for Westmoreland County...

expect Allegheny County activists to follow...

BTW: Westmoreland is just to the west of Pgh. Monroeville is in Westmoreland county.

[spag68]

14. Monroville

is east of pgh.

[Junkdrawer]

15. I'm sorry...you're right...And I've made the wrong turn on the turnpike...

with that same error... :silly:

[spag68]

16. pgh

I used to tell my ny friends, that you could get off the tp in monroville E. drive 14 miles into pgh. then 14 miles west to warendale on the IS in 30 mins.

[blue neen]

24. Monroeville is in Allegheny County.

The biggest town in Westmoreland County is probably Greensburg, the county seat.

:)

[Wilms]

9. Did they say WHY they thought it was better than Diebold?

I've never gotten the idea that any of these machines were OK.

Everyone is so hung-up on Diebold it helps give a pass to the other vendors.

Not cool, at all. :(

[napi21]

11. Yes. Two reasons.

First, the voter gets to view the entire ballot instead of having to page through it.

Second, Seequoia offers a print module that prints how you voted on a piece of paper that stays behind glass. When you OK your vote, it cuts off that sheet and drops it into a sealed secure container. It wouldn't prevent machine tampering, but at least would give a recountable paper backup. As far as I know, Alleg. Cty. did not purchase the print module at this time, but intends to purchase them next year (I think).

[Gidney N Cloyd]

12. Sequoia here, too. (Chicago/Cook County)

I've tried to follow the selection process and it seems they provide verifiable paper for recounts.

[Wilms]

13. Thanks.

Here's an article John Gideon did on the trouble with that printer.

[nicknameless]

19. Did you mean to post a link?

:shrug:

[Wilms]

20. And thank you, Nick. Here it is.

http://www.votetrustusa.org/blogs/corpcontrolofcertification.htm

[mom cat]

22. So have paper ballots for everyone who is not disabled!

I do not need to use the lift on the bus just because some disabled people need to use it. Furthermore, the touch screen voting systems ate very difficult for people with some disabilities. The whole disability arguement is a ruse.

[hlthe2b]

3. Gee, I guess the situation really is desperate for "little Ricky"

Santorum...:eyes:


Such crap, unbelievable crap.

[kster]

5. How about votepad

http://www.bradblog.com/archives/00002329.htm

[Junkdrawer]

7. I'm sure they'll use "The States hasn't approved Vote-Pad yet"..

and, in PA, approvals are done by a Mike Shamos who is a BIG touch screen proponent..

[kster]

10. Christopher Carrolli was right

Douglas Bauman questions why Pennsylvania is being forced to conform to the electronic voting system.

Isn't it obvious? The Republicans cannot win the state of Pennsylvania, one of the few states that are adamantly Democrat. The solution? Fix the voting machines, so they can rig Pennsylvania like they did Florida.

The next presidential election is spelling certain doom for the Republicans, but if they can capture the state that usually predicts the winner and combine it with enslaved Florida, they create a base that is difficult to diffuse.

The chaos that erupted in Florida will erupt here, keeping the Republicans afloat. Say no to new voting machines; it won't help them this time anyway.

Christopher Carrolli
Greensburg
http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/opinion/letters/s_428174.html

[Junkdrawer]

17. UPDATE: Here's what was said in court today...

Pa. Supreme Court hears voting systems arguments

PITTSBURGH - Using paper ballots in the May congressional primary would create chaos reminiscent of Florida's problems in the 2000 presidential election, an attorney for the state told the state Supreme Court in a dispute about voting systems.

"Imagine when that election will be certified," Mark Aronchick, a private attorney hired by the state, said Wednesday.

...

Charles Pascal Jr., an attorney representing the voters, maintained that a paper ballot system in the primary would comply with the federal law.

Justice Ronald Castille asked how Pascal's clients would be harmed by using an electronic system.

"It seems to me all these individuals would be interested in fair elections," Castille said.

Pascal said the harm is in not being able to vote on the change.

"That's all we are asking," he said.


http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/103-03012006-619885.html

[BeFree]

25. Sounds like a winner to me

All we are asking is that the government follow the constitution.

So, paper ballots are the only way at this point to follow the constitution. There's more than one way to skin a cat, and following the constitution is one way to get paper ballots back! What a concept!

[Amaryllis]

18. Since when are any kind of machines going to be any different in

making polling places accessilbe to the disabled?

[Lugnut]

21. Exactly.

The place where I vote has one step down after entering a standard-sized doorway. Somebody in a wheelchair wouldn't be able to even get to the voting machine.

[Talismom]

23. Same things are happening in NY State. Effing bastards. n/t

[Junkdrawer]

26. UPDATE: PAPER BALLOTS LOST...

HARRISBURG, Pa. - The state Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a county may replace its mechanical lever voting machines without voter approval in a case that pitted new federal election laws against the state constitution.

The ruling eases concerns about possible disruptions in the planned upgrading of voting systems in dozens of counties before the May 16 primary election.

The decision, which overturned a lower court, was announced in a one-page order that promised a subsequent opinion explaining the justices' reasoning.

The lower court judge - Commonwealth Court Judge Dan Pellegrini - said the 2002 federal law that requires many counties to upgrade their systems before the primary affects only federal elections, while the state constitution requires voters' approval for any change in voting systems.

....

http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/103-03022006-620337.html

Guess we'll have to wait to see why the PA Constitution is null and void...