Senate OKs security requirements for voting machines

Monday, August 29, 2005 

(08-29) 12:31 PDT SACRAMENTO, (AP)

Legislation establishing security requirements for electronic voting machines ? including a requirement that they not be linked to the Internet ? was approved Monday by the state Senate.

The 33-0 vote returned the measure by Assemblyman Tom Umberg, D-Santa Ana, to the Assembly for a vote on Senate amendments.

Current law requires electronic voting machines used in California to provide a paper record of votes cast to ensure that the machines accurately record votes. Umberg's bill would require election officials to keep those paper records as long as they would paper ballots.

It also would:

_ Require the machines to enable voters to verify how they voted but would not allow voters to take home a paper record of their votes. Bill supporters said that would discourage the selling of votes.

_ Require the secretary of state's office to conduct random audits of voting machine software.

_ Prohibit electronic voting machines from being connected to the Internet, being capable of receiving or transmitting a wireless transmission or from receiving or transmitting voting results through telephone lines or another exterior communication network. Those steps are designed to prevent tampering.

"The potential for fraud makes this one of the most important bills we will deal with this year in terms of ensuring the integrity of voting systems," said Sen. Debra Bowen, D-Redondo Beach.