Centre County Voting Machines

The federal Help America Vote Act, passed after the 2000 election controversy, requires states to replace outdated voting systems, ensure accuracy, and provide accessibility for the disabled.

Implementing new voting systems by the deadline--the May 2006 Primary Election--is complicated because:
-The state has not completed the certification of voting systems.
-Legislation that will determine requirements for voting systems is still pending in the state legislature.
-Manufacturers can no longer guarantee delivery of equipment or training in time for the 2006 Primary.

A nonpartisan coalition of Centre Country groups, led by the League of Women Voters, has studied the voting machine options and has appeared before the Board of Commissioners. If the Commissioners accept the recommendations of this group, we in Centre County can be assured that our votes and our voting system will follow the Leagues SARA principles (Secure, Accurate, Recountable, Accessible). The only way to comply with these guidelines is to have a voter-verified paper record.

Please sign this petition to tell the Centre County Board of Commissioners that you want them to follow the SARA principles and the recommendations of the coalition in replacing the current punch card voting system.

Thank you,
Coalition of Concerned Voters

Dear Centre County Commissioners:

Given current circumstances, I join the League of Women Voters and the coalition of concerned citizen groups in recommending to the Centre County Board of Commissioners that:

 ELECTRONIC TOUCHSCREEN VOTING SYSTEMS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE cannot ensure the integrity of votes cast or provide a voter-verified paper record, AND THEREFORE MUST NOT BE SELECTED.

 OPTICAL SCANNING VOTING SYSTEMS are based on proven technology, are used by other Pennsylvania counties and the state of Michigan, PROVIDE A VOTER-VERIFIED PAPER RECORD, AND THEREFORE ARE THE BEST OPTION.

 The PURCHASE OF AN OPTICAL SCAN SYSTEM IS THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE USE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS. Lease with an option to buy or an option to trade for touchscreen machines is not recommended because repeated change of voting systems is confusing for voters.

 Systems that provide for precinct-level tabulation are most likely to comply with SARA principles.

 Any purchase agreement for an optical scan system must require that the manufacturer provide support for the existing punch card system if difficulties arise in providing for the contracted optical scan system.

 Any machine purchased for disabled voters must provide the full range of accessibility options. If a machine with full accessibility is not available, the contract must require the substitution of a fully accessible machine as soon as it is certified.