Former foes join forces for election reform

Published in the Home News Tribune 10/10/04
by By LEDYARD KING
Gannett News Service

WASHINGTON Two years after they faced off on the ballot, Rush Holt and DeForest "Buster" Soaries are united in trying to fix it.

Holt, a Democratic congressman representing New Jersey's 12th District, and Soaries, a Republican who tried to unseat him in 2002, have plunged into the cause of electoral reform.

Though their solutions differ, each has become a stalwart voice on ways to restore voters' confidence that was shaken by Florida's messy presidential recount in 2000.

"We still disagree on some things," Soaries said. "But around this issue of voter integrity, we absolutely agree that it is of paramount importance to the country."

Since January, the 53-year-old Baptist minister from Franklin has been chairing the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. Congress created the four-member, bipartisan panel to draft national standards for holding elections. The panel must report its progress to Congress every year.

Meanwhile, Holt, 55, introduced the Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2003 that would require electronic voting machines to produce a voter-verified paper record to enable accurate recounts.

More than 20 percent of all registered voters nationwide and 70 percent in New Jersey cast ballots at polling sites that use electronic machines, such as touch-screen devices.

"I expected that Buster Soaries and I would continue a civil or friendly relationship after the election," Holt said. "I guess I hadn't figured it would be so closely together on a cluster of issues as we are."

Holt, a nuclear physicist keenly interested in scientific matters, became drawn to the issue of election reform after computer security experts said the lack of a paper trail could undermine the integrity of the vote.

Soaries found an immediate ally in his former rival.

"Rush was an early supporter urging Congress to take seriously our needs for operating funds," Soaries said. "He was aware of the technical process and gave us names to testify at our first hearings, gave us names of people who could have been participants in the technical development process. There were weeks when I talked to Rush or his staff every day."

Soaries caused a national stir earlier this year when he wrote Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge about contingency plans in case terrorists disrupt the Nov. 2 elections.

"I raised a legitimate question that is an uncomfortable subject to discuss," he said. "State elections officials are now having intense conversation with state homeland security officials, which wasn't happening."

But, for the most part, Holt and Soaries' work won't play a role in the Nov. 2 election.

Soaries' commission still is reviewing what standards to recommend for different types of voting machines. And despite having 156 co-sponsors for his bill, Holt has been unable to get any action in the Republican-controlled Congress.

"Whether my legislation is passed or not, there will be election irregularities. You can't even imagine all of the problems that might occur," Holt said. "What we want is to maximize the possibility of a meaningful recount."

Holt should know about recounts.

His 2000 race against former GOP Rep. Dick Zimmer was so close that it took more than three weeks after Election Day before Zimmer conceded defeat. Holt won by 651 votes out of nearly 300,000 cast.

Two years later, Holt trounced Soaries 61 percent to 37 percent.

Despite working together now, they don't always agree.

Soaries said the congressman's well-meaning proposal to require paper records for electronic voting machines is premature until his commission reviews standards for the machines.

"I don't think Congress should dictate one solution for all the states," Soaries said. "For Congress to have passed Rush's bill would have undermined the integrity of much of our work."

Holt believes that Soaries' commission will eventually come around to his way of thinking.

"I'm still hoping and I guess I expect that the EAC will at some point come around to endorsing the principle of auditability," he said. "And if they do that, it will necessarily lead to something like my legislation."