Vote absentee, group says

E-VOTING: A civil rights group urges black voters to avoid using machines and use mail-in ballots.

10:16 PM PDT on Saturday, July 24, 2004

By MONIQUE H. HENDERSON / Special to The Press-Enterprise

Concerns over the security of electronic voting have prompted the Riverside County Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to urge black voters to cast absentee ballots in November.

"To make changes we have to vote and to have our votes count," said Robert Burks, a law enforcement officer who has run for office in Moreno Valley. "We have a lot of concerns about whether these machines are secure - whether we really know our vote will count. These machines are suspect because they can be hacked into."

Burks was one of 10 panelists who addressed more than 100 people gathered Saturday for the chapter's first-ever town hall meeting, held at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Riverside. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference was established by slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. more than 40 years ago in Atlanta to help ensure equal opportunities for blacks.

Conference officials said voting by absentee ballot is more secure, because a paper record is available in the case of a recount or computer snafu.

In April, Secretary of State Kevin Shelley office decertified all electronic voting machines, citing concerns about security and fraud. Counties with the machines, including Riverside and San Bernardino, sued to regain the right to use them.

As part of a settlement, both counties will now be allowed to use touch-screen voting, but election officials must keep extra paper ballots on hand for voters who request them.

Still, activist Hardy Brown said voting absentee is safer and more convenient than requesting a paper ballot at the polls.

"You know more about where your ballot is going," Brown said. "And you have more time to vote, instead of just going on that one day."

Panelists also addressed concerns about the state's three strikes law, the death penalty and workplace discrimination.

Activist Barbara Ellis pleaded with the audience to support Proposition 66, which would change the three strikes law to require that all three strikes be for violent or otherwise serious crimes. Under the law, those with two strikes face a sentence of 25 years to life if they are convicted of a third felony.

"We need to put some parameters on this law," said Ellis, who has a family member in prison because of a three strikes conviction. "It affects a lot of Latinos and blacks. Something must be done."

State Democratic candidates Marjorie Musser Mikels and Robert Melsh were among those who attended the meeting and distributed campaign materials. Mikels is running for the State Senate's 31st District, and Melsh is running for the 64th Assembly District.

Democrat Richard J. Meyer, who is vying to unseat Republican Mary Bono in the 45th Congressional District race, sat on the panel, discussing the need for expanded health care coverage and campaign finance reform.

"I have gone door to door and I have seen a lot of people who don't want to vote because they believe that big money is in control," Meyer said. "They have lost hope. I want to offer them a hope - an alternative."

During a question and answer session, several people spoke forcefully and emotionally about workplace discrimination, saying they had been fired or harassed while working for the government. Several people had lawsuits pending.

The Rev. James Baylark, president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference Riverside County chapter, said he organized the event because he wants to see more blacks vote.

"We have a responsibility and an obligation to make a difference in our community," Baylark said. "We can't just sit back and accept things - say, 'Well, that is the way it is.' We must take action."