Baltimore Sun and The Washington Post

May 21, 2005

The Baltimore Sun and The Washington Post both reported a list of vetoes by Governor Ehrlich and the evoting study bill was among them.

This is good. While the bills would have afforded some more opportunities for TrueVoters to further educate the public on the need for verifiable elections, the study would have likely been a pre-determined “dog and pony” show given that anti-paper ballot SBE Administrator Lamone was retained as the ultimate decision maker.

That said, Ehrlich also rightly vetoed the so-called “Linda Lamone for Life” bill which required the State Board of Elections be dissolved and reconstituted so that the limited accountability in place over the State Election Administrator would be completely eliminated—and the current bi-partisan structure be shifted to a near total one party majority.

Md Evoting Lawsuit

In April of 2004, TrueVote brought together 8 plaintiffs to sue the Md State Election Board arguing that the paperless machines did not comply with MD election law which requires that recounts must rely on an original voter record (and numerous other counts—scroll down for legal docs).

The plaintiffs include two Democratic City council people (Baltimore and Takoma Park), Republican Senator Andrew Harris, a physician/Green Party candidate for Baltimore City Council, Linda Schade and several other voters from around the state.

After dramatic hearings last summer, the lawsuit is now starting up again with discovery and depositions (or interviews) to begin in the next few weeks.