Machine Crashes, Malfunctions and Voter Protests Across the State

March 2, 2004

Montgomery County, MD: Thousands of voters in Maryland protested the use of paperless electronic voting today by demanding paper ballots and demonstrating at precincts in Takoma Park, Baltimore and Annapolis. In addition, precincts in Anne Arundel County and Montgomery County had computer crashes and voters reported incidents where votes were lost, Democrats were given computer cards for Republican ballots (and thus voted in the wrong primary) or the choices on the machines were incomplete.

"Citizens are asking `Will this machine count my vote or eat it?' stated Linda Schade co-director of TrueVoteMD.org. "Maryland officials hoped they could legitimize paperless voting by forcing it on citizens against their will but many voters rejected the system and pushed hard to vote on paper ballots."

Election judges around the state had different reactions to voter demands for paper ballots. TrueVote estimates that one-third of voters who requested paper ballots were given them. While many judges expressed concern with the new electronic voting system, they followed the orders of the Board of Elections and refused to provide paper ballots.

Election judges around the state had different reactions to voter demands for paper ballots. TrueVote estimates that one-third of voters who requested paper ballots were given them. While many judges expressed concern with the new electronic voting system, they followed the orders of the Board of Elections and refused to provide paper ballots. The State Board of Elections tried to take a hard line against the paper ballot but voters and even some election judges refused to go along. A Republican election judge in Washington Grove, MD (Precinct 910, Warren Richardson), reported to True Vote that rules that allowed wider use of provisional ballots were changed in the last two weeks to make their use more restricted. "Election officials knew that if they gave people a choice of paper or plastic - they would choose paper. Every report on the paperless voting machines concluded they were not secure and could not guarantee that votes were counted the way the voter intended."

"We began receiving calls from voters at 7:30 this morning," said Kevin Zeese, attorney and co-director of TrueVoteMD.org. "Voters were demanding the option of using paper instead of the machines and when election judges refused they asked us to intervene. With the number of incidents, we are now looking into a legal strategy to restore integrity to Maryland's voting system."

Maryland's state legislature is considering a bill (HB 53/SB393) that would require a voter verified paper ballot that could be used in random audits of the electronic vote and in independent recounts.

TrueVote MD
www.TrueVoteMD.org · 7711 Garland Ave., Takoma Park, MD 20912 ·
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