Citizen Group Applauds Legislative Inquiry Into Electronic Voting Machines Asks: "Why Spend $56 Million on Machines That Are Obsolete Before They Are Installed?"

October 27, 2003

Montgomery County: In the first week of its campaign to ensure the integrity of the vote in Maryland, over 2,300 letters were sent from the web site, www.TrueVote.org. The Campaign for Verifiable Voting reported that over 260 citizens from Frederick to Ocean City and Annapolis; as well as Baltimore to Silver Spring sent letters to the Board of Elections and elected officials.

The Campaign for Verifiable Voting also pointed to the call of state legislators for an independent evaluation of electronic voting machines as evidence that the tide is turning against the Diebold machines -- which have no voter verified paper trail or ability for an independent audit.

Finally, Robert Ferraro, a Director of the Campaign for Verifiable Voting, pointed out that recent reports indicate that a voter verified paper trail is becoming the industry standard and three companies already provide machines with such ability (see Wired Magazine: http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,60864,00.html). He noted: "Maryland is spending $56 million on machines that will be obsolete before they are installed, are below the industry standard and will leave voters unsure about whether their vote was actually counted."

"The voters, legislators and technology are moving in our direction. We urge the Board of Elections and Governor to act now to amend the Diebold contract to require a voter verified paper trail," concluded Ferraro." This is a critical first step toward restoring voter confidence."

Ferraro, said in a letter to Delegates Hixson and Hollinger, two of the Delegates calling for an inquiry: "The State of Maryland should seriously reconsider the decision to move so quickly to a complete reliance on DRE voting machines and especially the Diebold brand machines. But, if these machines are used, they must provide a voter-verified paper audit trail to ensure the integrity of our elections. This is the only solution that will allow an independent recount and/ or a viable audit of the machine tallies."