Paula on the Issues - Election Integrity
Election Integrity
Confidence in the accuracy of elections is fundamental to the democratic process that makes Arizona and our nation strong.
With increasing concern about the security of our voting machines and their effectiveness, Arizona citizens demand that our right to vote be secured and results verified. Problems with electronic voting systems have engendered a loss of public confidence in elections. Computer security is very difficult to achieve when electronic voting machines are used unless an independent back up of the votes is required.
The federal Government Accountability Office issued a report warning of serious flaws in electronic voting systems. The simple solution of adding a paper trail and random audits has been recommended by the Carter-Baker Commission and interest groups from all sides of the political spectrum. These safeguards will allow for more public trust in our electoral process. Over half the states have already taken steps to ensure their citizens are getting accurate elections by establishing requirements for voter verified paper records of every vote. Half of those have established random audits to verify the accuracy of machine totals.
Laws must be passed that require electronic voting systems in Arizona produce a paper ballot or receipt that is preserved, and establish a manual verification of vote tabulations in a randomly selected set of precincts that would be expanded to a full recount if sufficient errors are found.
In Arizona, SB 1557 is the legislation currently proposed in the 2006 State Legislature. This law will ensure that Arizona has verifiable, accurate, elections ensuring a paper ballot or receipt and a manual recount of the vote in certain random precincts.
We need to ensure our Democracy by taking steps to protect every person's vote.
Arizonans and all U.S. citizens have a right to expect and get elections that are above reproach.
SB 1557 was guided through the Senate with the leadership of the Republican sponsor, assisted by Senator Aboud. It is awaiting a vote in the House.