Washblog

this demonstration.... for being there.  For all the considerable on-the-ground work you're doing.  And thank you for the reporting, as well.

by noemie maxwell on Thu Jul 19, 2007 at 09:27:10 PM PST

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That was interesting. He says that either the county (1) goes ahead with the purchase and the move to all-VBM or (2) it sticks with the current equipment and dual voting system.

Okay, #2.

by DWE on Fri Jul 20, 2007 at 08:35:59 AM PST

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Is the TSx DRE that bltfsk talks about in this Washblog diary the same equipment that KC is proposing to use?

by noemie maxwell on Fri Jul 20, 2007 at 12:42:52 PM PST

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there was an article on how state officials all over the country are struggling to overhaul their voting systems by 2008. In many cases the overhaul will be delayed to 2012:

Under pressure from state and local officials, as well as from lobbyists for the disabled, House leaders now advocate putting off the most sweeping changes until 2012, four years later than planned.

Overhauling voting systems before next year's presidential election had once been a top Democratic priority, primarily to allow greater accountability and be certain that all votes registered on computerized touch-screen systems were counted. But state and local elections officials told Congress they could not make the changes in time for the balloting in November 2008, particularly in light of the extra workload involved in preparing for next year's much-earlier presidential primary season.

by DWE on Sat Jul 21, 2007 at 08:09:11 AM PST

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to put a stop to this insanity?  This is something we need to take to court IMO.

by Pen on Sun Jul 22, 2007 at 12:24:36 AM PST

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I personally think the option to stick with the hybrid for 2008 makes the most sense. No one in their right mind would risk screwing up the 2008 presidential and governor's race.  Making any big changes, including moving to VBM in 2008, with or without new equipment, is doing just that.  Can you imagine? The first county-wide vote by mail election.  The first-time roll out of regional voting centers.  The first time requirement that all provisional voters vote on Diebold touch screen voting machines. The first time use of new Diebold software on the touch screens for use by  provsional voters(KCE anticipates 42,000 people to vote at the RVCs, on Diebold touch screen voting machines, using new software).

What are Ron Sims and KCE thinking? They seem to be completely unaware that there is a growing movement across the country to outright ban touch screen voting machines.  The failure to ban touch screen voting machines is one of the major objections to the Holt bill in Congress by election integrity advocates.

KCE will say that touch screens are the only, or at least best way to accomodate all the ballot styles.  This is not accurate.  KCE could have chosen to use the Automark, which is HAVA approved for disabled voters. It produces a paper ballot that is tabulated on an op-scan machine. Instead KCE chose to use touch screen voting machines. These machines have a history (numerous vendors)of vote flipping (Kerry to Bush in 2004),abnormally high rates of over votes and under votes (in New Mexico, 2004, in democratic, Hispanic, African American and Native American precincts, but not in white GOP precincts)and numerous inaccuracies (several Florida 2006 races, Ohio 2004, others).

So once again, my personal position is to stay with what we know and do nothing different for 2008. This is the least risky option, and the most sane. Let's wait until after 2008, and take addtional time to better evaluate our equipment options, and educate voters on what to expect in a VBM election. Voters need to be educated on how not to end up voting a provisional ballot.  

by raincity calling on Sun Jul 22, 2007 at 03:22:22 PM PST

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