Warren Slocum | San Mateo County's Chief Elections Officer & Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder

What Can You Do to Help?

As San Mateo County's Chief Elections Officer, I know that citizen activism can make a difference. On this page you can read about the issue of a voter verifiable paper audit trail for touch screen voting systems. I am deeply concerned about this issue and hope you will join the fight.

VERIFIED VOTING

Background
Every American should be guaranteed that his or her ballot will be counted correctly. One way to help accomplish that goal is to demand that electronic voting machines have a paper audit trail.

The Issue
The use of computerized electronic touch-screen voting machines is rapidly increasing because of the requirement to "modernize" voting systems. In California a bond measure was passed that provides state money for voting system modernization and some states like Georgia have converted to all touch-screen systems. It is estimated 20-30 percent of the national vote count is done on these types of machines. Only one vendor offers a touch-screen voting system that provides an independent paper printout that confirms for the voter that the machine is recording what the voter intended, and that can be used to audit the vote totals that the machines report - and no county or state uses that type of machine. Other companies may or may not be developing prototypes that meet the paper trail requirement that would help ensure election integrity.

Read the article I wrote on verified voting

Introducing the verified voting issue

Malfunctions
Electronic voting devices do malfunction. When that happens, the device could lose the vote count or the data could be corrupted. With no independent, voter-verifiable paper backup system these votes would be lost and the voters disenfranchised.

Programming Errors
Computer programmers are human and they do make mistakes. What would happen if a programmer made an honest mistake where every fifth vote for "candidate A" was getting recorded for "candidate B?" A voter-verifiable paper ballot system could help discover this error before it was "too late."

Election Fraud
I have spent many years conducting elections and I know that election integrity is critical. In an election there are potentially thousands of people involved and things can go wrong. The paper trail requirement for electronic voting devices will reduce the possibility of election fraud by producing a voter verified paper ballot.

Current Regulations, Certification Processes and Laws
Voting system certification, election regulations and laws need to be tightened up to guarantee the vote's integrity. Most state processes for the certification of voting systems are lax and/or done in secret. The process needs transparency and we need to make certain that the modern certification process meets modern standards for security testing.

Action is Needed Now!
This is an issue which is fundamental to the functioning of democracy and is a national, state and local issue. To date, however, the public and our elected officials are largely unaware of the problem. In addition, each week we read about some local and state jurisdiction that is purchasing or getting ready to purchase touch screen voting machines

In California

In 2003 the California Secretary of State formed a task force to study the issue of the paper trail requirement for touch-screen voting devices. There report has been published, public comments have been taken but as of September 1, 2003 the Secretary has not acted on the report's recommendations.

Send your comments to the Secretary of State and let him know that you support the idea of voter verified ballots for electronic voting devices.

Here are some easy things you can do to help on this issue:

Write to:
Secretary of State Kevin Shelley
Attn: Touch Screen Report
1500 11th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

Send email to:
TaskForceComments@ss.ca.gov

Contact Your ROV
Contact your Registrar of Voters and ask about their position on this issue. Here is a listing of California election officials. Go to the ROV list now

Take Action - Sign the Petition
David Dill, a Stanford Computer Professor, has lead the efforts for a voter verifiable ballot. His web site has a wealth of material, links and background information on touch screen voting systems and the need for an audit trail. Visit Professor Dill's Web Site

Actions for Voters in Other States

Adopt a Resolution
Get your city council or board of supervisors to adopt a resolution supporting HR 2239.

Write a Letter
Send a letter to your representative asking them to support HR 2239.

Track Legislation
Are you interested in tracking election reform legislation in your state? The National Conference of State Legislatures has developed an online program that allows searches by state or by subject. Check it out

Support Verifiable Ballots for America
Congressman Rush Holt introduced HR 2239 which would require verifiable voting for America. Send a letter of support to Rush and tell him you want your vote to count! (You can read the legislation by clicking the link below)

Daily Update on HR 2239
Congressional support is growing for the Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2003 which would require a voter verifiable ballot for touch screen voting systems. Check the current list of co-sponsors

Resources to Learn More About This Issue

Become more familiar with the issue of verified voting by reading these articles and visiting the websites listed

Read HR 2239 - The Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2003

Read Congressman Holt's speech on HR 2239 in the Congressional Record

Check HR 2239's status in Congress

See which representatives support HR 2239

Electronic (Touch-Screen) Voting Systems Companies

Advante Vote-Trakker - New Jersey

Sequoia Voting Systems - California

Diebold Election Systems - Ohio

Election Systems and Software - Nebraska

Hart InterCivic - Texas