Legitimacy of Election Hangs in Balance

August 25, 2004

Annapolis, Maryland ­  For the first time in the new technology's turbulent history, paperless electronic voting will be on trial for three days starting Wednesday, Aug. 25 in the state capital.

Maryland voters who are plaintiffs in the case are seeking a court order to force Maryland elections officials to provide a paper trail that can verify the results of electronic, touch-screen voting. The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. before Judge Joseph P. Manck at the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court at 7 Church Circle in Annapolis.

Progressing further than any other electronic voting lawsuit, Schade vs. Maryland State Board of Elections, et al. calls into question the legality of paperless voting machines under Maryland law, which requires paper ballots.

Among the witnesses will be the embattled Maryland State Elections Chief Linda Lamone, who will be required to defend under oath her purchase of the electronic machines against expert advice and at a time when the voting system's security vulnerabilities were well known.

Computer security experts who authored the state-commissioned expert reports concluding that the electronic voting machines contain “significant” security vulnerabilities and are at a “high risk of compromise” also will testify under oath, re-stating their devastating critiques of the Maryland's Diebold machines.

Local election officials will testify about breakdowns of the Diebold voting machines in Maryland's March 2004 primary election that she witnessed, and will testify that the state board criticized her for publicly discussing the incidents.

"Once the facts are known, the court will understand why the public does not want to use these machines in November,” said Linda Schade, plaintiff and co-founder of TrueVoteMD.org. "A democracy cannot function without the confidence of its citizens. I hope the court understands this and acts accordingly."

Paper trail advocates are expected to rally outside the courthouse before Wednesday’s hearing begins.

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