published February 9, 2006
The Sun missed the real story in the coverage of the briefings on
vote-verification studies ("Paper trail for voting machines unlikely this year,"
Feb. 2).The conclusion reached was predetermined by the State Board of Elections
because the only systems it allowed to be studied were prototypes.
The most widely used, time-tested and economical type of voting system that
provides voter verification, access for the disabled and the ability to conduct
recounts was not part of the study.
This is the optical-scan voting system, which was used in 19 counties in
Maryland for decades before those areas were forced to switch to paperless,
touch-screen machines.
Maryland's present voting system is riddled with security vulnerabilities and
does not allow for reliable recounts or audits.
A broad array of respected citizen groups, including the NAACP, Common Cause,
the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Organization for Women, the
Sierra Club, the League of Women Voters, Progressive Maryland and several labor
unions testified in favor of voter-verified paper ballot legislation later that
afternoon at a packed hearing.
But The Sun failed to cover the real story.
Robert Ferraro
Columbia
The writer is a co-founder of TrueVoteMD.org.
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