FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, February 17, 2004

JACOBSON, FEDOR CALL FOR LEGISLATIVE PANEL TO REVIEW SECURITY OF ELECTRONIC VOTING SYSTEMS

COLUMBUS ? State Senator Jeff Jacobson (R-Vandalia) and State Senator Teresa Fedor (D-Toledo) today called for the creation of a bipartisan

legislative panel in order to thoroughly review potential security risks associated with Ohio?s implementation of the federal Help America

Vote Act (HAVA).

In a letter sent to Senate President Doug White and House Speaker Larry Householder today, the legislators wrote: ?As the State of Ohio

undertakes an historic reorganization of the way in which we conduct elections, we are writing to bring to your attention important security-

related issues that we believe must be addressed prior to the purchase of any new electronic voting systems.?

In coming weeks, the State Controlling Board will be asked to approve contracts related to the purchase of electronic voting systems.

Jacobson and Fedor are asking their colleagues for a delay in the approval of the contracts until all potential security risks have been

considered and addressed.

The panel would review both the potential security risks identified in a study conducted by the Ohio Secretary of State?s office and those

identified in the review of electronic systems in other states. It will also provide a forum to address outstanding policy issues, including

whether a voter-verifiable paper trail should be required.

Senator Fedor, who has sponsored a Senate resolution that would call on the U.S. Congress to develop standards and security accreditation

guidelines for all electronic voting devices, said:

?The states have no guidance from the federal government which has not developed standards and security guidelines for electronic voting

devices,? said Senator Fedor. ?Without these standards in place, the states are taking their best guess. In the end, the industry is driving

the bus.?

Jacobson noted that because the Secretary of State has already requested and received a waiver from the requirements of the federal HAVA law

until January 1, 2006, the General Assembly has adequate time to address security issues without compromising the ability of the state to

have a new system in place prior to the deadline.

?Before we expend any more money on electronic voting systems, we have a responsibility to ensure that every potential risk has been

addressed so that Ohio voters have confidence in the way their votes are recorded and counted,? Jacobson said. ?Ohio must get it right.?

**For more information, please contact Chris Ingram, Senator Jacobson?s

Legislative Aide at 466-4538, or Greg Lestini, Senator Fedor?s Legislative Aide at

(614) 466-5204 **