Comment On proposed 2006 Voting System Guidelines
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- Who: Verified Voting Foundation & the Election Assistance Commission
- When: by September 21, 2005
- What: COMMENT ON EAC VOLUNTARY VOTING SYSTEM GUIDELINES
Contents |
COMMENT ON EAC VOLUNTARY VOTING SYSTEM GUIDELINES
On June 24, 2005, the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) released Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG) for public comment. The VVSG update the 2002 Voting System Standards as required by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA). If adopted, the guidelines will become effective in October 2006.
Although the guidelines are "voluntary," they will become the de facto nationwide standard for voting technology. It's crucial that the public provide feedback on how the U.S. government and most states will regulate voting systems for many years to come.
The deadline for posting comments falls within 90 days of the date the guidelines were published, or by September 21, 2005.
We look forward to your participation in this process bringing us a step closer towards a fully accessible and voter-verifiable election.
Feel free to comment on any part of the guidelines. We will be reviewing everyone's comments in preparing our official comments to the EAC.
We encourage you to visit the VVSG section of our blog and post your comments at: http://www.verifiedvotingfoundation.org/blog
Soon, we'll also be releasing a VVSG action alert summarizing the main points for public comments to the EAC, so even if you don't comment on the blog, stay tuned for the alert.
VERIFIED VOTING TESTIFIES AT EAC HEARING
On June 30, 2005, the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) held a hearing in New York City to hear comments on the VVSG.
Avi Rubin, Professor of Computer Science and Technical Director of the Information Security Institute at Johns Hopkins University, and Bobbie Brinegar, Senior Political Advisor for the Verified Voting Foundation, testified.
Brinegar emphasized the importance of transparency with regard to the VVSG. She recommended that: a) a broad spectrum of representatives from nonprofit election protection organizations, universities, and the public should be able to review and provide comment on test plans for voting systems, b) the test plans and results should be made public before certification of voting systems, and c) comments from test observers should be published along with the official test reports. Bobbie also emphasized that voting technology vendors should not be able to select a test lab and/or pay that lab for testing their own products as it creates a conflict of interest.
Avi Rubin, who is on the Verified Voting Foundation Advisory Board, emphasized the importance of routine audits as the key step in securing voting machines with paper trails. Rubin argued for the overwhelming importance of a voter-verified paper record (VVPR). "When considering the use of DREs (Direct Recording Electronic), VVPR are necessary because fully electronic voting machines are inherently vulnerable to undetectable rigging."
Rubin continued, "Election security is part of national security," and Bobbie Brinegar reminded us, "Voting is the foundation of our democratic republic and voting technology is the means by which the people express their will. Without secure, reliable, and verifiable voting systems, public confidence in election results will evaporate."
For the complete testimonies, see: http://www.verifiedvotingfoundation.org/article.php?id=6078
Comment on the proposed guidelines at http://www.verifiedvotingfoundation.org/blog
FLORIDA COUNTY IN LEGAL BATTLE OVER E-VOTING MACHINES
The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) ensures that voting machines are fully accessible to all voters. Unfortunately, the act does not go into effect until Jan. 1, 2006. This means that voting machine vendors, like Diebold in Florida's Volusia County, might be able to sell voting systems that do not guarantee HAVA compliance.
The two voting machines that are competing for purchase in Volusia County are Diebold's AccuVote-TS and the AutoMARK ballot-marking device from ES&S. Diebold voting machines guarantee neither HAVA accessibility compliance nor a voter-verified paper record. The AutoMARK apparently provides better accessibility compliance along with a voter-verified paper ballot.
However, Florida required that the AutoMARK receive federal certification (which it now has) before the state would begin the state certification process. In a preferential move, it did not require the same of Diebold.
According to Florida state law, all counties must have at least one state-certified touch-screen machine in each polling place by the arbitrary deadline of July 1, 2005. On June 29, 2005, the Volusia County Council voted 4-3 against authorizing the purchase of 210 touch-screen systems from Diebold. The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) sued Volusia County in the Orlando Federal District Court for refusing to comply with the July 1, 2005, deadline.
In a move that supports Volusia County's decision to hold out for voting machines that produce a voter-verifiable paper record, the National Association of Protection and Advocacy Systems (NAPAS) issued a statement saying it does not disagree with all of the criticism of the AutoMARK machine, but is concerned that a campaign has been waged against the AutoMARK machine in particular, even though most of the other machines on the market are significantly less accessible to voters with dexterity disabilities.
The American Council of the Blind (ACB) passed a resolution stating that the organization: a) Authorizes ACB Officers, Directors, and staff to take all necessary actions to ensure the accessibility of voting equipment and procedures including a VVPAT, and b) Does not support any legislation that would delay the deadline set forth in the Help America Vote Act (HAVA).
We support Volusia County in acquiring a voting system that meets the needs of all voters and provides verifiable elections.
For more information, see: http://www.verifiedvotingfoundation.org/article.php?id=6106 and the Florida section of our litigation page at: http://www.verifiedvotingfoundation.org/litigation#florida
NAPAS statement: http://www.verifiedvotingfoundation.org/napas
American Council of the Blind resolution: http://www.verifiedvotingfoundation.org/acb
VOTING MACHINES WANTED
We are trying to obtain voting machines, old or new, for free or a reasonable price, so that we can provide demos and study errors and malfunctions of the technology. If you know of any available technology, please contact us at http://www.verifiedvotingfoundation.org/contact
FALL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
Are you a student living in or traveling to the San Francisco Bay Area with an interest in helping make democracy work? If so, we'd like to hear from you!
Currently, Verified Voting is ramping up a fall internship program for students with an interest in voting, elections, computer science, policy, or activism. Apply your efforts to important election reform projects at a critical time when your country is facing election reform decisions. Help us ensure that every vote counts in the next election and gain new skills at the same time.
For more information and to apply: http://www.verifiedvotingfoundation.org/interns
JOIN VERIFIED VOTING FOUNDATION
Become a supporter or volunteer with Verified Voting Foundation at http://www.verifiedvotingfoundation.org/join
DONATE TO THE VERIFIED VOTING FOUNDATION
The upcoming months are a critical time for our efforts to educate the public and take action on critical projects. Your contributions to our efforts championing secure and reliable voting systems are much needed and much appreciated. Please give generously at http://www.verifiedvotingfoundation.org/donate
If you prefer to mail in a check and avoid any merchant fees, send it to our office at:
Verified Voting Foundation 1550 Bryant Street, Suite 855 San Francisco, CA 94103-4832
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