Shelley, Tuteur still at odds over e-voting
Saturday, June 19, 2004

By JAY GOETTING
Register Staff Writer

California's Secretary of State Kevin Shelley believes electronic touchscreen voting is the wave of the future, but until it's perfected, he will continue to take a cautious approach.

Shelley said he feels reports of his alleged disagreements with local registrars of voters, including Napa County's John Tuteur, have been exaggerated.

"I've had nothing but cordial conversations with John," he said. "I admire John Tuteur. He's extremely capable."

Nevertheless, the two remain at odds professionally over some aspects of the guidelines Shelley wants in place before he'll certify Napa County's Sequoia Voting System machines. "I'll certify them Monday," if the guidelines are met, he said. "We're really trying."

Shelley, 48, is a former San Francisco County supervisor and served in the State Assembly prior to his election to the Secretary of State position in 2002. The Democratic official rebuffed claims that partisan politics has entered into the electronic voting controversy.

"My view is very non-partisan," he said, noting he had opposed legislation that would have banned touchscreen voting in the November General Election. "I've tried to put in a system that will be user friendly."

Claims of conflict of interest were raised, particularly in the eastern U.S., when some of the larger electronic voting vendors made large contributions to GOP candidates.

Shelley believes his relationship with local registrars across the state is good. He admits there have been disagreements but adds, "I regret that, but I have never, ever said I consider them my subordinates. I just don't believe that. I consider that California has the finest group of local registrars in the nation."

He said while he is the state's chief election officer, the registrars run the elections. He also oversees California's participation in the Help American Vote Act, HAVA. "We are very much a regulator," he said of his office and its relationship to federal and local election processes.

Tuteur has stated that one of his fears is that he would in essence be conducting two elections simultaneously if Shelley's demand for optional paper ballots is implemented. Shelley disagrees. He wants the option of paper ballot voting available but he said ballots available at polling places for ten to twenty percent of potential voters would work fine.

Shelley also wants to see comprehensive poll worker training, something Napa County has done for years.

He said his office will pick up 100 percent of the cost to local elections offices to implement the guidelines. Since he administers the HAVA funding, he said the checks would be in the mail in a matter of days of submitting a claim.

Shelley also penned Proposition 41, which provides local governments with funding to augment federal funds to upgrade their voting systems.

Napa is one of five counties Shelley hopes will come on board following an April 30 directive setting standards for electronic voting systems. Also included are Riverside, San Bernardino, Shasta and Tehama.

In recent days he has certified electronic systems in Santa Clara, Merced and Orange counties.

One aspect of the standards, one that has driven the critics of electronic voting, is addressing the lack of a paper trail for votes cast. Shelley says, "These standards will be used by voting system manufacturers to develop the next generation of California's electronic voting machines."

A highlight of the new standards is the display of a paper record of the ballots. Although inaccessible to voters, it can be used in the event of a recount. Paper trails will be commonplace by next year, Shelley predicts.

Besides his election duties, the Secretary of State has a business and professional division that oversees and coordinates corporate activities. He oversees the Safe At Home program to protect victims of domestic violence, reproductive health care patients and others. Shelley manages a registry for domestic partners, manages the state archives and even oversees the state museum.

Just last week during remembrances for former governor and President Ronald Reagan, "We had an extraordinary desk used by Earl Warren that we provided for the ceremonies."

Shelley understands much remains to be done to perfect touchscreen voting, but he is willing to work with local offices to move in that direction.

"Is it the future? Yes, but it still has some kinks. Should we move in that direction? Yes."

Tuteur invited Shelley to come to Napa for a day of wine tasting. "I intend to take him up on that," said the secretary.