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Updated: 07:54 AM EDT
League of Women Voters Decries Paperless Voting
By RACHEL KONRAD, AP
(June 14) - The League of Women Voters rescinded its support of paperless
voting machines on Monday after hundreds of angry members voiced concern
that paper ballots were the only way to safeguard elections from fraud,
hackers or computer malfunctions.
AP
About 30 percent of the electorate will use touchscreen machines in
November.
About 800 delegates who attended the nonpartisan league's biennial
convention in Washington voted overwhelmingly in favor of a resolution
that supports "voting systems and procedures that are secure, accurate,
recountable and accessible."
That relatively neutral stance was a sharp change from last year, when
league leaders endorsed paperless terminals as reliable alternatives to
antiquated punch card and lever systems. About 30 percent of the
electorate will use touchscreen voting machines in the November election,
and hardly any of the machines provide paper records that could be used in
case of a contested election.
Last year's endorsement infuriated members from chapters around the
country - particularly in Silicon Valley and other technology-savvy
enclaves, where computer scientists say the systems jeopardize elections.
Legitimate recounts are impossible without paper records of every vote
cast, they say.
E-voting critics who attended the five-day convention, which ends Tuesday,
said the league's revision was welcome - if not overdue. ABC News "This
Week" host George Stephanopoulos answers your political questions from his
insiders' perch. See His Answers Ask a Question
"My initial reaction is incredible joy and relief," said computer
scientist Barbara Simons, 63, past president of the Association for
Computing Machinery and a league member from a chapter in Palo Alto, Calif.
"This issue was threatening to split the league apart. ... The league now
has a position that I feel very comfortable supporting."
Paperless voting has raised alarms, as several states discovered technical
and other glitches in their February primaries. At least 20 states have
introduced legislation requiring a paper record of every vote cast.
06/14/04 23:26 EDT
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