Convention -- Verified Voting Issue

[CornField]

A brief update on what happened at the convention in relation to "Ballot 32 - Election" on the platform.

In our nation, the voting process -- especially here in Iowa -- is going through rapid changes. I was part of a group, Iowans for Voting Integrity, which was attempting to clean up our platform plank to reflect the current laws within our state. Unfortunately, we were ultimately unsuccessful.

We presented an amendment with the required 30 signatures to the Platform Committee early that morning. We were not informed:
1) We could sit in the platform meeting to explain the changes and
2) That when the platform committee shot down our amendment, they were out of order -- it should have come to the floor.

There was confusion late in the day -- during the debate of the minority reports -- because we thought the platform committee's mistake might be flipped by the Rules Committee. In the end, however, we were left to debate the 'iffy' language of either the plank or the Minority report.

The plank called for "voter verified paper trails." Now, most of you have read my posts and know this is something which I have long wanted. It will probably shock you to learn that I wanted this language tossed in favor of "paper ballots only".

You see, our state legislature has not provided legislation for or against printers on the DRE voting machines. Due to this fact, none of the paper trails produced by the machines can be used in Iowa for a recount (amended Iowa Code took effect in late January 2006). The only thing which can be used in case of a recount are paper ballots.

Further, our state has only recently approved 'ballot marking devices' in lieu of DREs. These machines allow a paper ballot to be inserted and have adaptations which do allow those with disabilities to independently mark and cast their vote (on a paper ballot which can be traced, recounted and verified).

Moreover, the DRE company representatives have grasped onto the phrase "voter verified paper trail" -- only their definition is a stark contrast to what activists desire. When you vote on a DRE, you'll have a 'verification' computer screen. That, they say, is "voter verification." Inside there may be a spool of paper (which the voter never sees and which cannot be used for recounts) which, according to the reps, is a "paper trail." There you have it... your vote was 'voter verified' with a 'paper trail.'

So... the amendment was inappropriately shot down (probably because those on the platform committee did not know/understand the difference and why it needed to be stated) and the Minority report also lost (although it came down to a standing vote because it was so close). It's frustrating, but the fight continues.

Please remember this, if elections are not verifiable, nothing else we do really matters. Toss the platform... toss the IDP Constitution... toss the rallies... toss the contributions... toss the campaign materials... toss all of it to the wind, because if we cannot ensure our elections will not be run by corporate interests, we aren't ever going to have elected officials which work for the will of the people.

[rurallib]

1. Thank you for fighting for this - keep it up!

[Debi]

2. So....what I saw when I voted on the new machine

isn't something that can be counted in case the memory card went phfffftt?

:wow:

What is this craziness????

[CornField]

3. That's right -- cannot be used in a recount

[Debi]

4. I repeat - craziness!!! Keep up the fight! n/t