Call in backups for computer voting

Editorial    Indianapolis Star    22 August 2005

Our position is: Indiana should join 25 other states in requiring a paper trail for computerized balloting.

Remember Florida. For that matter, remember Indiana's 8th congressional district, where a painfully tight election in 1984 ended in several recounts and a decision by the U.S. House to declare Frank McCloskey the winner.

Another too-close-to call race is bound to occur again. Before it does, Indiana should join 25 other states in requiring that electronic voting machines leave a paper trail that can be authenticated. Fourteen other states are considering similar legislation.

About half the ballots cast in Indiana employ touch-screen machines that don't produce a paper record.

Requiring a paper trail has several advantages. It creates a separate ballot that can be used in the event of a computer crash, malfunction or evidence of tampering.

Paper ballots also enable electronic systems to be audited. By comparing the count of paper ballots with the electronic tally, it's easy to spot problems in specific precincts or with various computer methods.

But the most important reason for requiring a paper trail is to ensure voters that the system is accurate and accountable.

Although electronic voting machines have a better record of accuracy than old lever machines, they aren't infallible. As computerized voting spreads, polls show distrust of the election process is on the rise, no doubt because of problems people have experienced with computers.

Requiring a paper trail is a common-sense means of improving a process that is the foundation of our democracy.