I was quoted in today's paper!!

[helderheid]

http://www.sltrib.com/utahpolitics/ci_2535306

<snip>
Clarity Sanderson, the Internet outreach coordinator for the Utah Democratic Progressive Caucus, said the bill has good intentions. "However, it's missing some key factors to make it as transparent as need be."
Sanderson, who has been following the state's voting switch, says the state needs to have "open-source software," which means the software's code is open to the public to inspect. As currently proposed, the software running the new state system likely would remain proprietary to the company that made it.
</snip>

And I love the following as a side note


http://www.cafepress.com/jesusgroupies

[meganmonkey]

1. Good work!!!!

Hooray for you!

:toast:

[Nothing Without Hope]

2. Well done! Proof of intelligent life in Utah!

edited to add:
;-)
just so you know I know there are lots of good, sensible progressive thinkers in Utah as everywhere else. But they do live in a more hostile territory than some. That makes your accomplishment even more impressive!

[Carolab]

3. Open source won't solve the problem with DREs.

With the state looking for new voting equipment - possibly electronic, touch-screen machines - the Highland Republican has proposed legislation that would require the new devices have some type of "unalterable, auditable record" of votes cast.

This is not the solution. The machines can still be hacked and no one will know without recounts. I'd suggest this guy get with the experts at votersunite.org etc. before he provides more input on this. If you can't push back the machines, the conventional wisdom seems to be optiscans with precinct tabulators along with hand-counts of the ballots and votes at the precinct level before they go to central tabulation. This is what they do in Canada.

[helderheid]

4. here was my full email to the reporter

I believe the new legislation has very good intentions, however it's missing some key factors to make it as transparent as need be.

The bill does not specify that the auditable record be on paper, nor does it require any recount to be of a paper ballot receipt.

Another problem is that the bill doesn't specify that the machines use open source code - that is, the code is proprietary, and therefore owned by the company that produces that machine and the vote counting software. Privatizing elections removes transparency from our elections. Open source code allows the public to inspect the software and can be assured of how their votes are being counted.

Another concern I have is that those computer experts that have been studying the problems with the machines who have worked tirelessly on coming up with inexpensive and solid solutions have not been consulted to the best of my knowledge.

Utah Count Votes has been very on top of this issue and I'd recommend looking over the following pages:

http://utahcountvotes.org/voting_system_advice.pdf

http://utahcountvotes.org/Best_Practices_UCV.pdf

Personally, I don't understand why we cannot keep paper ballots. When you look at how Canada does it and how efficient they are, it seems to me the most transparent and trustworthy way to go. If we must have a computerized voting machine, in my opinion at the very least the software must be open source code and the machines must produce printed ballot receipt.

Thanks for involving me!

Talk to you soon (and good luck with your article!),

[GettysbergII]

17. Nicely done. Too bad they didn't include the 'paper ballot' part.

[helderheid]

21. The reporter assumed the "unalterable audit"

was a paper ballot but it is not. The Senator is now working with a computer expert to make the bill better. Hope in Utah!

[suffragette]

5. well said and well done

That's working the issue and getting out the word.

[helderheid]

6. I'm trying

even though here I am getting attacked on the left and the right! I think I need to move.

[suffragette]

22. which means you are really needed down there in Utah

If you decide to move, you'd be welcome up here in Seattle.

[bleever]

7. More great work. Thanks, helderheid! n/t

[GetTheRightVote]

8. Paper, Paper, Paper ballots, only way to fair elections

Please go for them before another vote is hacked.

:kick:

[helderheid]

9. That was my suggestion too

Wish someone in power would listen.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

32. Yes! Paper!!!! And it's great that they quoted you!!! BTW..your

name is fabulous. Clarity is one of my most favorite words. :)

[mod mom]

13. hear hear I secnd that voter verifiable Canadian-style paper ballots!

for all federally held positions!

[Hugin]

10. Congrats!

=)

[NationalEnquirer]

11. Awesome job, and a great graphic, I love it! n/t

[icehenge]

12. Great job,

We will be heard :)

[fooj]

14. You should be proud! We certainly are!

:yourock:

[helderheid]

26. That means SO MUCH to me!

Thank you!! :)

[fooj]

28. The work you are doing means SO MUCH to all of us!

Keep fighting the good fight! Peace!

[southwood]

15. Gefeliciteerd! nt

[helderheid]

16. bedankt!

:)

[dzika]

18. cool. Great job!

[helderheid]

20. thanks!

HEY did you see your video on Eric Blumrich's website????

http://www.ericblumrich.com/index.html Right hand side - CONGRATS!!!!!

This actually deserves a new thread just for that!

[EFerrari]

19. Good going!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[keepthemhonest]

23. fantastic

good work getting attention for the cause.

[fooj]

27. Hi there lady! Fantastic is right!

Keeping the faith? Right on, girlfriend!

[keepthemhonest]

30. Hey Fooj

How's it hangin?

Yeah we need more of this going on.

[Melissa G]

24. Congrats! Thanks for getting the word out! n/t

[seito]

25. Excellent

:thumbsup:

[jkd]

29. I read the article in the Trib.

Helderheid, How close is Utah to making a decision on the voting system. Will they wait toward the end of the session? The Wasatch County clerk didn't know when I asked him and simply indicated that they would go along with the state's decision. I don't want my taxes to go for anything but a voter verified paper trail

[helderheid]

31. I wish I knew the status

Amy Naccaratto has stepped down and I don't know who has replaced her. Last I heared was that if they go forward that they want them for the 2006 elections. NO NO NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!! BUT, I did hear that one of the computer experts against the machines is now working with the representitive of the proposed bill to correct the problems. The UDPC is also submitting a proposal for changes to be made. I have urged them to include a voter verifiable paper receipt to be used for hand recounts as well as open source software. I directed the co-chairs to this group that has created such a machine:


http://www.openvotingconsortium.org/

[Pacifist Patriot]

33. Excellent job. I've been out of town and haven't had a chance

to follow up with the name you gave me. I have not heard back from my Supervisor of Elections after sending him an awesome letter. I'm giving him another week before I contact the newspaper.