Local officials are worried a recent decision forbidding the use
of most electronic voting machines could be costly for the county
and inconvenient for voters.
Hollister – Local officials are worried a recent decision forbidding the use of most electronic voting machines could be costly for the county and inconvenient for voters.
“California county elections registrars are unanimous in our opposition to the draconian action taken by the secretary of state,” County Clerk Joe Paul Gonzalez said in a letter to the Board of Supervisors.
Citing security risks, Secretary of State Debra Bowen recently decertified many of the state’s electronic voting machines, including the Seqouia systems used by San Benito County.
That means most voters will be casting paper ballots to be counted by optical scan machines. One electronic voting machine is allowed in each polling system to comply with disability access requirements, but that machine will also be subject to additional security and post-election auditing procedures, according to Bowen’s office.
“My decisions have a bias towards voting systems that score the highest with two very important measuring sticks: transparency and auditability,” Bowen said in a statement released Aug. 3. “Applying proper auditing procedures to optical scan systems that are easier for voters to see and understand gives us the ability to begin rebuilding voter confidence in the systems we use to conduct elections.”
Although Hollister resident Karen Barrett enjoys using the electronic voting machines, she said Bowen’s decision makes sense.
“When you add a machine, there are too many risks, too many things that can happen,” Barrett said. “I feel more secure punching my little holes.”
But in his letter, Gonzalez said the decision could carry a price tag of tens of thousands of dollars for San Benito County, as well as wasting the $810,000 already spent on electronic voting systems. Gonzalez is also worried the change could lead to longer lines at polling places and a longer wait before an initial tally of votes becomes available.
Gonzalez added that Bowen’s “top-to-bottom” analysis of electronic voting machines exaggerates the security threat.
“None of the traditional, statutory or recommended security procedures were in place, making the study unrealistic,” he said.
Former County Clerk John Hodges said Bowen’s decision is “totally ridiculous.”
“Our computers are under two lock and keys, and under camera surveillance,” he said.
Hodges predicted that election officials would try to fight Bowen’s decision, because “money is so tight.”
But Jeanie Wallace, chairwoman of the San Benito County Central Committee, said she supports the shift to paper ballots.
“I’m dubious of the reliability of electronic voting,” Wallace said. “I think she’s doing what she needs to do in order to protect the integrity of our vote.”
Wallace added that possible inconveniences aren’t a big deal. In other countries where democracy is a more recent phenomenon, residents don’t mind standing in line for hours to vote, she said.
“The big picture is how much we as Americans take for granted the right to vote but don’t want to be inconvenienced to have reliable results,” Wallace said.
A representative of the Republican Central Committee did not return Free Lance phone calls on Thursday afternoon.
Anthony Ha covers local government for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
