Making a case for optical-scan voting

OUR OPINION: DUAL SYSTEM COULD BE LESS COSTLY, WIN VOTERS' FAVOR

Miami Herald    20 October 2005

There is good news about the feasibility of converting Miami-Dade County to an optical-scan voting system. Such a switch would allow voters to cast their ballots on a reliable, trustworthy system, attributes that weren't always associated with the electronic touch-screen system used since the 2000 presidential election debacle.

Details of the pros and cons of a switch were outlined in a Sept. 30 memo from Supervisor of Elections Lester Sola to County Manager George Burgess. It's clear that Mr. Sola is taking a careful, reasoned approach to assuring that the county gets an effective system.

Sensible idea

Mr. Sola's research found that it could cost far less than anticipated to switch to optical scanners. However, because of legislation passed this year in Tallahassee, the county would still have to use the touch screens for early voting. The county could consider using a blend of both types of machines, Mr. Sola says. His reasons for blending the two systems make sense.

The Legislature approved a provision that requires counties to report absentee- and early-voting results by precinct instead of by ballot style. Early voters can vote at any open polling place rather than being limited to their own precinct. Since in any given county-wide election there are many ballot styles listing varied local candidates and ballot questions, the touch screens are equipped to read about 200 different ballot styles. In a paper-based optical-scan system, the new law would require every early-voting site to carry the separate ballots for all 749 precincts in the county a total of 2,247 ballot types. The optical-scan system approved in Florida offers no reasonable way to manage and report so many ballot styles. Thus, Mr. Sola recommends touch screens for early voting.

Mr. Sola's research also suggested that each precinct would only need one optical scanner rather than the earlier presumed two, thanks to technology. If a scanner malfunctions, voters can keep on casting paper ballots while repairs are made. This considerably reduces the cost of switching to optical scanners. Mr. Sola has asked for a revised financial analysis of making the switch.

Reduce election costs

The other good news is that touch-screen technology is improving. Miami-Dade's iVotronic system has been upgraded so that it may be possible to boot up the electronic screens on the morning of Election Day rather than the night before. This could reduce current election costs significantly.

Voters still may be skeptical about touch screens. Mr. Sola promises more voter-education initiatives and the real key to smooth-running elections more training and practice runs for department employees and poll workers. He must keep that promise.