Electronic voting is trustworthy in Oregon/ Oregonian Op-Ed

[BigLed]

Op-Ed by SOS Bill Bradbury in the Portland Oregonian

I think this is important for two reasons, it indicates that the issue is getting mainstream media attention as will as attention from a mainstream politician, and because vote by mail is an alternative I haven't seen discussed at all in the BBV discussions here.

The mobile voting machines for the disabled is particularly interesting.

http://www.oregonlive.com/commentary/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/editorial/106812435783310.xml

"Across the nation, there has been growing concern about the reliability and trustworthiness of electronic, touch-screen voting devices. Last Friday, The Oregonian printed a wire story ("Distrust of electronic voting machines is on the rise," The Associated Press) discussing some of these worries -- fraud, the ability to recount, confidence in technology. I want to assure voters that things are different in Oregon.

Because Oregonians vote by mail, we will retain paper ballots for every voter. These paper ballots are tallied by optical scanning machines -- similar to the machines used for standardized tests -- soon to be in place in all Oregon counties. While some states are replacing all their voting equipment with touch-screen devices, the Oregon vote-by-mail system of paper ballots simply does not contemplate a full switch to touch-screen voting.

In mail voting, the envelope containing each paper ballot is checked against each voter's registration signature card to prevent fraud. Elections officials then keep the ballots in case a recount is necessary.A cross the nation, there has been growing concern about the reliability and trustworthiness of electronic, touch-screen voting devices. Last Friday, The Oregonian printed a wire story ("Distrust of electronic voting machines is on the rise," The Associated Press) discussing some of these worries -- fraud, the ability to recount, confidence in technology. I want to assure voters that things are different in Oregon.

Because Oregonians vote by mail, we will retain paper ballots for every voter. These paper ballots are tallied by optical scanning machines -- similar to the machines used for standardized tests -- soon to be in place in all Oregon counties. While some states are replacing all their voting equipment with touch-screen devices, the Oregon vote-by-mail system of paper ballots simply does not contemplate a full switch to touch-screen voting.

snip

The Oregon plan for implementing the Help America Vote Act calls for each county to have at least two electronic voting devices, one permanently housed at the county elections office, and one mobile unit that can be transported by election staff to a location that suits the voter. These machines will allow people with disabilities to cast their votes with the same confidentiality and independence that others take for granted. We intend to have the electronic voting option for disabled voters in place by 2006."

[stevedeshazer]

1. I saw this too

But I think you left out the most important part:

<snip>
Oregon law requires that election recounts be conducted by hand. Electronic voting devices to be used in Oregon must, therefore, produce a voter verified paper record of each vote cast.

[BigLed]

3. That is the best thing about vote by mail

it has to be paper. I was tempted to post the whole column since it is so short.

[E_Zapata]

2. And who counts the vote, Sec. Bradbury?

Diebold optical scan machines, that's who.

And the problem with the whole HAVA thing is that it mandates a centralized voter registration system. Maybe I should write him a letter about the PURGED voter rolls in Florida? Not on the rolls, there ain't no vote to count for that person!

I am sure glad I have a unique name. I would hate to be confuse with a felon named Billy White and get purged!

[BigLed]

4. Diebold optical scanners

is the piece of this I have been most worried about but I need to understand this objection better.

And purging voters is a different issue from the bbv topic. I think.

[fabius]

5. Vote by mail works pretty well here.

and we're assured of a paper trail.

Not too confident about the Diebold scanning machines but if they really were "fixed" Mannix (winger) would have won the Gov. race.

Bradbury's a good guy.

[depakid]

6. Oregon is susceptible

mainly because counties are so cash strapped that effective audits may not be performed. Hell, it's so bad here that the legislature didn't even fund the voters' pamphlet- the Emergency Board had to or else we'd get no information on candidates and measures at all, other than all of the corrupt right wing propaganda bought and paid for by out of state interests.

[OKHRANA]

7. I don't care what anybody says...

any electronic voting has to have a receipt showing my votes and a URL address to show my ticket # was counted right, or I don't trust it.