- Voter Confidence And Increased Accessibility Act Of 2003
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- On May 22, Rep. Rush Holt D-NJ responded to the growing
chorus of concern from election reform specialists and computer security
experts about the integrity of future elections by introducing reform legislation,
The Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2003 (H.R.
2239). The measure would require all voting machines to produce an
actual paper record by 2004 that voters can view to check the accuracy
of their votes and that election officials can use to verify votes in the
event of a computer malfunction, hacking, or other irregularity. Experts
often refer to this paper record as a "voter-verified paper trail."
"We cannot afford nor can we permit another major assault on the integrity
of the American electoral process," said Rep. Rush Holt. "Imagine
it's Election Day 2004. You enter your local polling place and go to cast
your vote on a brand new "touch screen" voting machine. The screen
says your vote has been counted. As you exit the voting booth, however,
you begin to wonder. How do I know if the machine actually recorded my
vote? The fact is, you don't."
The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) was an important piece of legislation
that took many important steps towards electoral reform. However, in helping
states replace notoriously problematic and antiquated machines, HAVA appears
to be creating a headlong rush to purchase computer voting systems that
suffer different flaws.
Unfortunately, because computer voting machines are not currently required
to produce a voter-verified paper trial, any errors and irregularities
they cause are difficult or even impossible to discover. A growing host
of nationally and internationally-renowned computer scientists consider
a voter-verified paper trial to be a critical safeguard for the accuracy,
integrity and security of computer-assisted elections.
The Voter Verification Bill seeks to incorporate the voter-verified paper
trail by amending HAVA immediately. If passed, funds expended under HAVA
will be utilized in a manner that ensures that this minimum standard of
protection will be built into computer voting systems now, without the
necessity of replacing or upgrading such voting systems later. Key provisions
of the bill include:
Requires all voting systems to produce a voter-verified paper record for
use in manual audits. For those using the increasingly popular ATM-like
"DRE" machines, this requirement means the DRE would print a
receipt that each voter would verify as accurate and deposit into a lockbox
for later use in a recount. States would have until November 2003 to request
additional funds to meet this requirement.
Bans the use of undisclosed software and wireless communications devices
in voting systems, and limits electronic communication to outgoing reports
of vote totals only.
Requires all voting systems to meet these requirements in time for the
general election in November 2004. Jurisdictions that feel their new computer
systems may not be able to do meet this deadline may use a paper system
as an interim measure (at federal expense) in the November 2004 election.
Requires that electronic voting system be provided for persons with disabilities
by January 1, 2006 -- one year earlier than currently required by HAVA.
Like the voting machines for non-disabled voters, those used by disabled
voters must also provide a mechanism for voter-verification, though not
necessarily a paper trail. Jurisdictions unable to meet this requirement
by the deadline must give disabled voters the option to use the interim
paper system with the assistance of an aide of their choosing.
Requires mandatory surprise recounts in .5% of domestic jurisdictions and
.5% of overseas jurisdictions.
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