Computerized Voting is on its Way Here

By Danielle Sherry    The Shore Publishing   5/3/2005

Groton The world of gigabytes and megahertz will soon be infiltrating Connecticut's electoral process, and many state residents are concerned about the costs and reliability of the new technology. According to Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz, every Connecticut polling station will have at least one computerized voting machine in place by November 2006 to comply with the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002. The act was intended to provide voting uniformity and accessibility across the country. At an electronic voting machine forum last week at the Groton Public Library, panelists explored the issues and challenges associated with the implementation and use of electronic voting machines. "I know how computers work and I'm a little bit appalled that we are going to trust these unreliable machines for something as important as voting in this state," panelist Ralph Morelli, a professor of computer science at Trinity College, said. Panelists agreed that in order to make voting accessible to everyone, a change in the old machinery must occur. However, they split on what type of technology should replace the current lever-pull units: Direct Reading Electronic (DRE) units or optical scanning machines. "For the record, Groton has never had a voting machine problem that has questioned the validity of election results. We have had minor machine problems from time to time such as a broken curtain cord or a burned-out light bulb," Allen Palmer, Groton's Democratic registrar of voters, said. "That said, it should come as no surprise that the Groton registrars do not feel (computerized) voting machines will improve voter confidence here in Groton." DRE machines operate on a "touch screen" premise, much like ATM machines. This method has been classified as the most adaptable option to accommodate the physically challenged and non-English speaking voters, but is much more costly than optical scanners. Rep. Tim O'Brien, D-24th District, said he was concerned about DRE's capacity to produce a voter-verified paper ballot as required by Senate Bill 55, intended to prevent voter fraud and in the event that a recount is needed. "I've been around both computers and elections long enough to know that there should be a second way to back up these machines," O'Brien said. "Senate Bill 55 is being widely regarded as the model for legislation around the country regarding the new push for computerized voting," said fellow panelist Andy Sauer, executive director of Connecticut Common Cause, a voter advocacy group. "You really can't blame people for wanting a safeguard." Optical scanners, which were tested in Old Lyme and East Lyme in last November's election, operate by scanning a paper "bubble" ballot and electronically recording the results. This method, although considerably less expensive, does not provide the same accessibility to people with disabilities. Both potential technology choices came under scrutiny from audience members and town officials. "My concern is that the costs for this new technology will begin to escalate out of control," Palmer said. "The maintenance contracts, the software upgrades, the storage costs for an environmentally controlled area ... my fear is that this is going to become another unfunded federal mandate." Sauer did little to quell the fears of the voters, stating his own concerns over the process of modernizing the current voting system, comparing the process to the risk of pharmaceutical testing. "When a scientist first invents a drug, they test it extensively in the lab, and it works perfectly," he said. "But sometimes when that drug is put into the human body, it goes haywire. This is like integrating these computers into the voting arena. You really never know what's going to happen." Regardless of costs and other concerns, change will happen, Morelli noted. "We know we need to modernize," he said. "We just need to find a way to modernize sensibly."