October 11, 2005

"California puts voting machines through paces"

"California will put the tools of democracy to perhaps the most rigorous testing of any state, ordering voting-machine makers to surrender their proprietary software for security reviews and supply dozens of their machines for mass, mock-election tests.

In memos this week to local elections officials, Secretary of State Bruce McPherson laid out plans to create a new technician-led office, devoted to putting voting machines through their paces before California voters use them. Despite the assumed computerized precision, concerns of screen freezes, software crashes and a lack of a traceable paper trail remain top e-voting fears among advocates.

Marsha Wharff, Mendocino County clerk and registrar of voters, applauded McPherson's decision to form the streamlining office.

"I think it's a really good idea," Wharff said. "A team of people has to go through all that testing and it hasn't been formally part of a cohesive office before."

You can read the article here.

Posted by Randy Riddle at October 11, 2005 09:07 AM