Reply #9: Democrats vow votes will have paper trail

[Melissa G]

Democrats vow votes will have paper trail

Mark K. Matthews
Washington Bureau
Posted December 12 2006


WASHINGTON -- It may be too late for frustrated voters in Sarasota County, but Democratic leaders said they intend to change election rules next year to require that all voting machines produce a verifiable paper record.

If the federal proposal becomes law, Florida would have to abandon all its touch-screen-voting machines unless state election officials decide to certify a touch-screen model with a verifiable paper trail. So far, that has not happened.


Recently, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Boca Raton, said they aim to make paper records a top priority in the next Congress, despite concerns about the regulation's expense and questions about its accuracy.

The aim is to prevent the confusion and mistrust that grew out of the controversial House District 13 race in Sarasota County. That's where about 18,000 people who cast ballots on touch-screen machines did not record a vote in the razor-thin race.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/orl-votereform1206dec12,0,7797896.story?coll=sfla-news-florida