SLCO to Join Others Opposing Federal Election Bill
None by KCPW
(KCPW News) Salt Lake may soon become the latest county in Utah to adopt a resolution opposing a bill in Congress that could make the state's brand new electronic voting machines obsolete. Councilman Dave Wilde says the Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2007 is yet another example of the federal government meddling in local affairs:"There's the principle involved of us saying to the Federal government 'Leave us alone, we can handle this. We don't need your intervention,'" says Wilde.
Tomorrow Wilde will urge his Salt Lake County Council colleagues to pass a resolution expressing disapproval of the proposed federal measure. The bill would require a more "durable" paper ballot that is voter verified. Wilde says Salt Lake County would most likely have to replace or significantly alter the millions of dollars worth of Diebold machines it only recently purchased.
"I never liked the Help America Vote Act in the first place, but we've implemented it," says Wilde. "Apparently now they think there's more they need to tinker with, and that could cost millions of dollars more for Salt Lake County plus all the other counties around the state."
According to the Utah Association of Counties, at least half of the 29 counties in Utah - including Davis and Utah Counties - have passed resolutions opposing the Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2007.
Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom. Copyright 2008 KCPW
1. Barbara Bellows-TerraNova said:
Funny how these things play out. The truth is that most of us who have studied vote theft over the last three years are also opposed to the Holt bill as well, but obviously for different reasons -- it does not go far enough.
Honest computer scientists consistently agree that the direct recording evoting machines, such as Diebold, are completely inappropriate for voting -- they are not secure - period.
A better bill will come along and remove them.
3. Kathy Dopp said:
Most people who are anti-HR811 have not read the bill themselves. There is a lot of disinformation about it being spread by those who do not want our vote count accuracy subjected to independent checks. HR811 is fully funded and would save SL County and Utah tons of money and provide us with a more accurate, reliable voting system and give us 99% probability that 99% of our federal election outcomes are accurate. Utah election officials seem to be constantly spreading disinformation. See http://electionmathematics.org or http://utahcountvotes.org for more info.
4. Jerry Duke said:
Under HR 811 Utah could use the current voting system with the thermal rolls for the 2008 election. Would Utah still need to supply a paper ballot at all polls for 2008 under the Holt legislation? Would the paper record both thermal and hand marked still have to be audited? Would that paper record be the official ballot? And if there is a significant difference between the electronic count and the paper count, what will happen? I know what HR 811 says, but will that really happen in the trenches. In Heber City last year election officials didn’t even have the door open to observe the tape nor did they inform voters that they could open the door to verify their vote. I can see a real fight brewing.I don’t believe Diebold will even make a printer for 2010 because I don’t think they really want the electronic vote verified. Can one imagine what a mess it would be for poll workers if all voters really checked their intent against the printed ballot? If HR 811 becomes law, Utah should just opt out of DRE’s and start over with (my county clerk hates it when I mention this) hand counted ballots.
2. Larry Holmstrom said:
I regret that Utah electoin officials are misinformed on the H.R. 811. Missinformation about the bill has been circulated in a national campaign by voting machine vendors. H.R. 811 insures the secrecy of the vote, which current machines used in Utah do not, and provides for a mandatory audit capability to insure the vote is accurate. Utah is expected to upgrade their machines by the general election of 2010. The Act provides funds to the States to upgrade/replace their machines in addition to funds to cover the costs of audits. The machines purchased by the State do not meet the national standards and have not been certified for use in federal elections. If you would like to see the latest information on H.R.811 please visit our web site.