Reply #15: That's not what I said, actually... [View All]

[emlev]

I personally trust hand counts of paper ballots more than machine counts. I hope we'll get there in the not-too-distant future, at least in nearly all jurisdictions. I don't think we can get there right now with HR 811 or any other bill, so strategically right now I'm supporting some use of technology, specifically:

--allowing paper ballots to be counted by precinct-level optical scan machines with rigorous election night auditing procedures;
--continued use of non-tabulating DRE-type devices that produce paper ballots, combined with mandate that ONLY paper ballots be used for all tallies and audits. The purpose of allowing these machines is to provide access for minority language voters and voters with disabilities.

If we have a bill that mandates that all votes be on paper ballots, then local groups that are advocating for hand-counted paper ballots will have much less of a stretch to achieve that, since those ballots will already exist. Because of the history of fraud with hand-counting and its specific use to disenfranchise African American voters in the past, coupled with political realities in DC right now, I think this is the best we can hope for immediately. So that's what I'm working for.

This is a strategic decision and does not in any way imply any lack of respect for my colleagues who take a different strategy toward the same goal. I have loads of respect for you.