May 11, 2006

"Voting machines a key issue in bid to lead elections office"

"Questions about the accuracy of electronic voting machines have become a dominant issue in the race for California secretary of state, with the two Democratic challengers for the job carving out differing positions.

State Sens. Debra Bowen of Marina del Rey (Los Angeles County) and Deborah Ortiz of Sacramento are vying to face Republican incumbent Bruce McPherson. McPherson has grappled with certifying electronic voting machines since his appointment in March 2005 by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to fill the remainder of Kevin Shelley's term after he resigned from office while being investigated for alleged financial misdeeds.

The secretary of state is California's chief elections official who coordinates statewide elections and works with county registrars to maintain voting rolls.

Early polls show few voters know of Bowen, Ortiz or McPherson. Neither Bowen nor Ortiz appears to have the campaign funds to remedy that through extensive television advertising.

"I don't think voters have a clue who the two Debs are -- even though both of them have distinguished Senate careers," said Barbara O'Connor, director of the Institute for the Study of Politics and Media at California State University Sacramento.

"But while voters may not know much about the candidates, they care about the issues the secretary of state's office deals with. They certainly care about the security of electronic voting machines," O'Connor said.

One of the key differences between Ortiz and Bowen is their position on electronic voting systems. Bowen doesn't like them. Ortiz thinks they're fine as long as they are "secure, accurate and accessible to all Californians."

In the November 2005 special election, 16 of California's 58 counties -- including Alameda and Santa Clara -- used electronic voting machines.

This year, McPherson certified those systems and several upgraded ones for use in the June primary after imposing a battery of tests on manufacturers, including additional security reviews of the machines.

Bowen's primary objection to the systems isn't security, it's simplicity.

"The question isn't whether you dislike electronic voting, it's why are we spending $5,000 per machine if there's a less expensive, simpler system that's easier for people to understand, easier to train poll workers about, more transparent and more auditable," Bowen said.

Bowen favors systems like those used in Contra Costa and Sacramento counties in which voters mark their ballots with a pencil."

Posted by Randy Riddle at May 11, 2006 11:17 AM