Howard Dean-endorsed Arthur Anderson breaks promise for paper ballots.

[Eric J in MN]

With Howard Dean's help, Arthur Anderson was elected Election Supervisor of Palm Beach County, Florida, replacing Theresa LePore (the butterfly ballot designer).

Arthur Anderson promised to add printers to the electronic voting machines.

But now that he won, he's lost interest in adding printers, and instead wants ONLINE VOTING, with no paper ballots, no exit polls.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/politics/content/local_news/epaper/2004/12/05/s1c_transition_1205.html

[DFLforever]

1. That's not what I understand him to say in this article:

Here are some pertinent sections that tend to contradict your conclusion:

"He also wants to study voting technology and possibly replace the county's paperless voting machines, and add printers to them to create a ballot paper trail.

Criticizing paperless voting was a major part of Anderson's campaign and a prime issue for Anderson's political patron, U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Delray Beach. But Anderson has been less adamant about the paper trail since winning election.

"I'm thinking in terms of the paper ballot trail, adding the printers," Anderson said.

But since no vendor has yet submitted a printer to the state for certification, Anderson said, "we really don't have to rush to make a final determination."

Also, he noted, "printers, too, can malfunction."

When new supervisors introduced themselves at a Thursday session, Anderson said he wanted to explore the possibilities of online voting.

"I think that holds tremendous potential if we can bring adequate security measures to the process," Anderson said later.

[Eric J in MN]

4. Online Voting is the opposite of requiring paper ballots.

Online Voting means:

electronic voting with no paper records to recount.

I consider it a broken promise that Arthur Anderson is considering Online Voting.

Also, that he's in no rush to add printers to electronic voting machines, though they used them in some precincts in Nevada in November.

In Minnesota and Wiscsonsin, we use optical-scan (SAT-style) ballots state-wide. That is what he should buy.

Or use plain paper ballots, hand-counted.

Instead, Arthur Anderson is going in the wrong direction, and I call that a broken promise.

[janx]

11. It looks to me as if he's considering combining technologies.

The line that he seems less interested in a paper trail since he has been elected is the writer's opinion only.

That's what is wrong with media these days; I'm so sick of it.

I wouldn't sweat it if I were you.

[Eric J in MN]

15. There are exact quotes from Arthur Anderson that

"printers, too, can malfunction" and that he's considering online-voting.

I'd say the writer's opinion is accurate.

[DFLforever]

17. Well, they do malfunction.

In St Paul's 3-14 precinct Nov 2, I had to leave my ballot lying in the bottom of the box while the printer was being repaired. They said if I had concerns, I could wait around until it was fixed and feed it back into the scanner myself. But I looked around at the DFL volunteer attorney and decided I would trust these good elections officials to enter my vote safely into the system.

[Eric J in MN]

19. Why was a printer needed at all in St. Paul, Minnesota? NT

NT

[DFLforever]

22. Whatever was used to record the votes scanned, and it looked very

much like a paper tape they were threading in the machine - had to be replaced before any more ballots could be fed into the machine.

It wasn't a paper receipt as such, no. But it apparently was essential to the scanner's tabulation of ballots.

[Eric J in MN]

24. Everything malfunctions sometimes.

But an election official emphasizing that printers malfunction is a bad sign.

[DFLforever]

16. I think it's important to recall that the Palm Beach Post endorsed LePore

So Eric I wouldn't get too upset about this article. As janx notes, it's just the media pressing buttons of those sensitive to this issue.

[Eric J in MN]

18. I hope you're right. We'll see how Palm Beach votes in 2006. (NT)

NT

[DFLforever]

12. Eric , I highlighted sections of the article to make them prominent.

What is your reaction to those statements by Anderson.

[Eric J in MN]

14. It's nice that he's still thinking about adding printers, but

the parts about "printers, too, can malfunction." and that he's open to online voting aren't encouraging.

I'd say that running for office based on paper-ballots, and then saying you're thinking about online-voting after the election is breaking a promise.

[madfloridian]

2. Eric, before you start something here.....find out more about it.

What you put is not exactly what is in the article. I would check it out further. Then post more. I really don't think you should blame Howard Dean, and I think you should know that Dean supports a controversial type of voting, IRV.

Could you edit your subject line to avoid contention here?
http://www.californiaaggie.com/article/?id=6177

Here is something about IRV.

[Eric J in MN]

3. IRV is a separate issue from online voting.

Online Voting is the opposite of requiring paper ballots.

I consider this a broken promise by Arthur Anderson.

[madfloridian]

5. Post in open forum, not here.

You should NOT have used Howard Dean in your subject line. Howard Dean did not break his promise.

[Eric J in MN]

20. I wasn't trying to imply he did. I asked the administrators to

change the subject-line, but I didn't even realize the subject-line could be interpretted that way until you pointed it out.

[madfloridian]

6. Howard Dean did not break a promise. False subject line.

And this is a flamefree forum.

[Eric J in MN]

13. I asked the Administrators to change the subject-line.

I wasn't trying to imply Howard Dean broke a promise.

Here is my request to the Administrators to change the subject-line:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=120x26157

[madfloridian]

7. Please fix your subject line, Eric. That is wrong.

.

[Eric J in MN]

9. It's not letting me edit.

But I didn't mean to imply Howard Dean broke a promise. Arthur Anderson did.

[madfloridian]

8. Well, too late to fix it. This is uncalled for.

I am sorry you posted it that way. Why?

[Eric J in MN]

10. I used Howard Dean's name to make it relevant to this forum.

I know Howard Dean didn't break a promise, and I didn't write that.

[ProudToBeLiberal]

21. wdf you making it seemed that howard dean brok a promise.

:eyes:

[Eric J in MN]

23. I didn't mean to imply that. I asked the Administrators to change

the subject-line when it was pointed out that it could be interpreted that way.

I can't edit it now.

Here is my request:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=120x26157

[madfloridian]

25. Not mad at you, Eric.

It just gave the wrong impression. Not mad, it is just the board is so sensitive to us right now that we are touchy.

[ibegurpard]

26. This guy needs to be monitored closely

Accountability in politicians is the number one reason why we have an organization like DFA. If he reneges on the main issue that he campaigned on he needs to be replaced.

[Eric J in MN]

27. Exactly. The issue Arthur Anderson won with is the issue

he's breaking his promise on.