April 09, 2007

"Secretary of State Debra Bowen: Californians must know their vote counts"

"Are all of California's voting systems secure, accurate, reliable and accessible?

It's a relatively simple question and I believe California's voters are entitled to an answer. If the answer to that question is "no," then some voting-machine vendors and county elections officials who rely on their equipment will undoubtedly be inconvenienced. But it's the 37 million Californians who will truly suffer if we don't have the courage to ask that question in the first place.

Reviewing the accuracy and security of these instruments of our democracy shouldn't be viewed as a criticism of any county or county elections official. The single goal of the top-to-bottom review is to determine if the voting systems California's counties bought to comply with the federal Help America Vote Act HAVA are doing the job that California's voters count on them to do.

Contrary to the Sentinel's assertion, this assessment won't cost the counties any time or money because the review is being conducted under my authority as the state's chief elections officer. I have asked county officials for their input and it's heartening to know that some of them believe there is value in thoroughly examining the voting systems certified for use here in California. As one county clerk wrote about my proposed review:

"The right to vote and to have one's vote accurately recorded and counted is among the rights properly held to be most important to the citizens of a democracy. Citizens should expect this right to be vigorously protected by those public servants whose duties attach thereto. It is my opinion that the draft criteria you propose make significant progress in this effort on behalf of the citizens of California.

"Since the introduction of computer-based technology to the voting process, citizens have experienced a subtle closing of the window of transparency and accountability and a gradual dimming of the light of public inspection on elections. We are long overdue in our move to correct these defects"

Every election year, far too many voters are left to wonder if their voice matters, or if their vote even counts. To argue that because there are elections to conduct, California doesn't have time to determine if the voting equipment is secure, accurate, reliable and accessible ignores the fundamental reason why we hold elections in the first place.

People need to have confidence their votes are counted exactly as they were cast. If we fail to ensure the integrity of our voting systems, we'll do little but undermine the foundation of our democracy.

Debra Bowen is California secretary of state."

Posted by Randy Riddle at April 9, 2007 08:53 AM