Why does Indiana need voter-verified
paper ballots and automatic random audits?
How do we need to change Indiana voting systems
to make them secure and reliable? The accuracy of electronic,
computerized voting systems cannot be guaranteed. No additional
battery back
up systems, memory back up systems, or additional software certification
requirements will guarantee that each vote will be recorded correctly
or that all of the votes will be stored safely and tallied correctly.
To secure our voting systems we need each voter to be responsible
for making certain that their vote was recorded correctly, and
for
teams of citizens to participate in auditing each election to make
sure that votes are tallied correctly.
Computer information specialists agree that any electronic voting
system can be rigged or hacked. They also agree that the best way
to secure electronic voting systems is to incorporate:
1. Voter-Verified Paper Ballots (VVPBs) - a permanent paper record
the voter can visually inspect before casting their vote, and
2. Mandatory Manual Random Audits (MMRAs) – a hand
count of paper ballots at randomly selected precincts to ensure
that
the machines
are counting accurately.
If we have VVPBs and a machine fails during an election, then we
have the paper ballots to count, so votes are not lost. If we have
VVPBs and MMRAs then we can detect, and correct, any errors in the
electronic voting machine tallies.
Professor Aviel Rubin of Johns Hopkins University cautions against
using any system that does not include VVPB: “Without paper
ballots that can be physically examined, the only recount possible
is a review of the votes recorded by the [voting] system itself.
And if those votes were recorded incorrectly, no recount will fix
the error. The incorrect result could never be detected, much less
corrected.” Read Avi Rubin’s latest article “Pull
The Plug” or check out his new book “Brave
New Ballot”.
Over the long-run, Verify The Vote Indiana will work with Indiana
State Representatives and Senators to introduce legislation that
will provide voter-verified paper ballots and automatic random
audits throughout the state.
In the meantime: Common
Cause recommends voting absentee-by-mail or in person at
the Clerk’s office if the voters’ only other option
is a paperless electronic voting machine on election day.
All “Direct Record Electronic” voting systems in
Indiana are paperless - including the voting machines in
Monroe County. Click here to
see to see if your county is listed as having a "direct
record electronic" voting system. (If your county is listed
as having optical scan ballot cards then you will vote on paper
whenever you vote.)
If you live in a "direct record electronic" county, contact
your local County Clerk's office to find out if people
who vote early in person at the Clerk's office will vote on
paper. If early voters in your county will get to vote on paper,
then VOTE EARLY! Early voting in
Monroe is on paper!
All
registered voters in Indiana are eligible to vote absentee-in-person
at the county election board office before Election Day.
(Look up contact information for your county here.)
In Monroe County, early voting will be held
at the Monroe County Clerk’s Office Annex in the Curry
Building (on 7th St. behind the Justice Building). You can
vote 8 AM to 4 PM Monday through Friday, beginning October
10th through November 3rd. The Clerk’s Office Annex
will also be open Saturday October 28 and Saturday November
4 from 8 AM to 4 PM and on Monday, November 6th from 8 AM
to noon.
