Federal funds pave way to voting paper trail

[Scurrilous]

Source: The Miami Herald

<snip>

"U.S. election officials gave Florida the go-ahead Tuesday to use federal money to pay for voting machines with a paper trail, easing the way for the state Legislature to scrap touch-screen machines in Miami-Dade, Broward and 13 other counties.

The agreement capped a two-hour meeting before the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, which rejected the bid to tap one federal pot, then told the state how to get the $28 million it asked for anyway: Use the federal funds to reimburse itself for the millions Florida spent on new voting machines after the "hanging chads and butterfly ballots" debacle of the 2000 presidential election.

The initial rejection prompted an impassioned plea from Secretary of State Kurt Browning, who told the commission that without federal money, the state would be unable to move to paper ballots in time for the 2008 presidential election.

"Florida has been through the wringer and back," Browning, a former Pasco County elections supervisor, told the commission when it appeared the federal dollars would not be available. "Florida wants to move on . . . Florida is election-weary."

Browning said that although he believes the electronic ATM-style machines are accurate, "there's a perception out there that you can't trust touch-screen voting machines."



Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/416/story/93086.html

[RC]

1. We do not want or need a paper trail. We NEED paper ballots!

[Vincardog]

2. SEcond that. We do not need paper trails or audit trails we do need PAPER BALLOTS

[Scurrilous]

3. Lawmakers ditch touch-screen machines

<snip>

"Florida's experiment with touch-screen voting machines is over.

The Florida Legislature on Thursday morning agreed to spend nearly $28 million to scrap the ATM-styled machines used in 15 Florida counties, including Miami-Dade and Broward, and replace them with ones that use paper ballots.

The push to switch Florida from the touch-screen machines was a top priority of Gov. Charlie Crist, who said he doesn't want the state to be embarrassed anymore by its elections.

The House voted 118-0 to approve the bill, which also moves up Florida's presidential primary to Jan. 29, making it one of the earliest in the nation."

http://www.miamiherald.com/515/story/95130.html

[rcdean]

4. This is good news -- despite what BBV is now pushing.

It's completely ironic that BBV--which led the way to informing the nation about the need for VVPBs (Voter Verified Paper Ballots; e.g. paper trails) now claims they are inadequate and the whole eVoting shebang should be junked in favor of a return to paper.

I've tried to argue the futility of this nonsensical position within BBV -- but of course to no avail.

Evoting is here to stay. The question is how to make it safe.

True there are weaknesses in VVPB mechanisms. So DEAL WITH THEM.

Paper trails are still the best solution.

[Vidar]

5. Thanks for the good news.