Citizen Group Demands Paper Ballot Audit Trail

March 1, 2004

Montgomery County, MD: TrueVoteMD announced plans for protest inside and outside of key voting precincts on March 2, Primary Day. Voters are insisting that they be allowed to vote on paper ballots so their votes will be counted and to make a statement that they do not support the use of paperless electronic voting machines i.e. electronic elections without a voter verified paper record for independent audits and recounts.

TrueVoteMD picketers will be carrying signs that feature Uncle Sam asking, "Will Your VoteCount? Demand A Paper Ballot" as well as signs directed at the Chairs of the key committees, Delegate Sheila Hixson of Montgomery County and Senator Paula Hollinger of Baltimore County. The voters group will also be handing out literature describing the security and other problems with the electronic machines and how to demand a paper ballot. See www.TrueVoteMD.org to see the flyers and Uncle Sam posters.

Demonstrations of opposition to the paperless voting machines will continue inside the voting precinct as well. Voters will be demanding provisional paper ballots because the machines are insecure and without an independent voter verified paper audit record there is no way to conduct independent audits or recounts. TrueVoteMD is sponsoring an Election Day Hotline for voters who want assistance in speaking with their election judges.

"We will not let the Board of Elections legitimize these machines by forcing us to vote on them," claimed Linda Schade, a co-director of TrueVoteMD. "We are demanding paper ballots. If they refuse, it clearly shows they know that voters, if given the choice, will choose paper over electronic ballots. If they deny us our right to have our votes counted, we will file formal complaints against the State for using unacceptable paperless voting machines."

Last week, the City of Takoma Park, Maryland passed a resolution encouraging passage of the House and Senate paper trail bills (HB53 and SB393) requiring voter verified paper audit trails. Takoma Park Mayor wrote the Board of Elections asking that the citizens of Takoma Park be given the choice of paper ballots on Primary Day.

Montgomery County Demonstration :7600 Flower Ave. (near Carroll Avenue) at11:30am - 1:00pm. Among the speakers, Marc Elrich, the sponsor of the Takoma Park Resolution. in Delegate Hixson's district Contact on Tuesday Linda Schade 703-981-3619 cell

Baltimore County Demonstration: [precinct address to be announced], 3:00pm to 4:30pm in Senator Hollinger's district Contact on Tuesday Bob Ferraro 240-899-0263 cell

TrueVote MD
www.TrueVoteMD.org · 7711 Garland Ave., Takoma Park, MD 20912 ·
301-270-6150