Panels recommends counties use paper backup ballots
JIM WASSERMAN, Associated Press Writer
Wednesday, April 28, 2004
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(04-28) 17:48 PDT SACRAMENTO (AP) --
Ten counties that use approximately 23,000 touch-screen voting machines will be able to use them this fall but only if they provide alternative paper ballots in each precinct, a state advisory committee recommended Wednesday.
The committee had considered banning touch-screen voting in the 10 counties, but agreed 7-0 on a compromise that allows county registrars of voters to use paperless electronic voting machines with numerous conditions.
Among them: extra security measures to minimize possibilities of hacking, no wireless or Internet connections on machines and no last-minute software changes.
"A year ago I brushed off concerns about security as paranoia," said Deputy Secretary of State Marc Carrel, a committee member. "Now I have a different opinion."
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