Houston Chronicle article pooh-poohs VVPT: usual claptrap

[Stevepol]

Iin the same edition apparently in which a reasonable article called for a VVPT, there was this OpEd, which presents the same tired claptrap that is spouuted by the vendors about the fact that the paper trail can just as easily lead to miscounts etc., that the so-called testing is just peachy keen, that the elections officials are just ever so careful about the seals on the machines, etc. etc.

See how many of her arguments a fifth grader could see thru. It shd be like shooting ducks in a pond. If you can demolish every one of her arguments you win a kewpie doll.



Aug. 19, 2006, 8:53PM
BALLOT ACCURACY
PAPER TRAILS AND TRIBULATIONS: ELECTRONIC VOTING BACKUPS NO PANACEA

By BEVERLY KAUFMAN


A vocal minority continues to call for a "voter verifiable paper trail" to be used in conjunction with Harris County's electronic voting system. The simple fact is that without a clear statutory framework, the expenditure of public dollars for this effort would be a misuse of funds and create a tremendous problem during a post-election review of the conduct of an election.

Twenty-seven states have mandated the use of such a paper trail with their electronic voting systems, but only half of these states have incorporated this paper trail as a reflection of voter intent for use in an election recount. Understanding that critics of electronic voting systems mean well, it is important to dispel a number of falsehoods that continue to be espoused.

snip...

NOW YOUR MISSION DU-ER, SHOULD YOU ACCEPT IT, IS TO FIND KAUFMAN'S SO-CALLED FALSEHOODS AND SHOW HER ARGUMENTS TO BE BASICALLY CLAPTRAP. Of course, it won't keep the next OpEd writer from saying the same thing at a later date, basically a rehash of the marketing spiel of the vendors when they sell these vote theft machines and build the things so that the paper trails are difficult to handle and to recount, etc. etc.


Link: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/4...