New Yorkers: Don't Buy New Machines and Dump the Old!

[kster]

November 25, 2007

by Sheila Parks

http://www.opednews.com

In USA v. New York State Board of Elections, et al. (US District Court,Northern District of NY, Civil Action No. 06-CV-0263) Department of Justice (DOJ) Attorney Brian Heffernan argues that even though no electronic voting systems exist that meet NY's voting technology standards, NY must use the faulty technology.

The right to vote, as well as the principle of “one person, one vote,” are cornerstones of our democracy. The anti-slavery, women’s suffrage, and civil rights movements as well as the expansion of voting to young people are all part of the history of voting rights in this country. Equally fundamental is the assurance that each voter knows that her or his vote counts and is counted as intended. At this time in our history, many have lost confidence in our voting system. This confidence must be restored.

Last year, I observed five hand-counted paper ballots (HCPB) elections: three in Massachusetts, one in Vermont and one in Maine. All five hand-countings of the paper ballots were conducted smoothly, without any hassles and were finished in a timely manner. Although HCPB do not address the egregious suppression of the vote, coupling the elimination of this suppression with HCPB is the only way we will have fair, honest, transparent elections.

In Acton, Maine, in the General Election on November 7, 2006, I observed six teams of two counters each, hand-count paper ballots. Each team was made up of a Republican and a Democrat. Not only did each team hand-count the paper ballots, but also they immediately audited the hand-count. That is, they did a second hand-count immediately after the first hand-count. With seven races and two initiatives, the six teams of two people each were able to hand-count twice 944 ballots in four hours.

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_sheila_p_071125_new_yorkers_3a__dump_t.htm

[autorank]

1. K*R Sheila Parks is first rate...

And she's been around long enough to have perspective on voting rights. She wrote a seminal article in Tikun on hand counted paper ballots.

Thanks for this. Hadn't seen it yet.

New York State is not going to roll over for DoJ. They can slug it out in court with some of the best lawyers in the country helping out. It won't even be close.

[bleever]

2. "DOJ Attorney says leaky bucket okay for measuring water."

"There's a hole in the bucket,
Dear Justice, dear Justice,
There's a hole in the bucket,
So fix it right here."

"With what shall I fix it,
Republic, Republic?
With what shall I fix it,
I've got machines here."

"Just fix it, just fix it,
Please fix it, dear Justice;
Just make sure the total
And process are clear."

"I'll fix it, I'll fix it,
Republic, Republic,
I'll fix it, I HAVA
The answer right here."

Said Justice, "Republic,
Our answers have shown,
The results are most certain,
Though the data's unknown."


There's a hole in the bucket,
Republic, Republic,
There's a hole in the bucket
Let's plug it right here.