September 19, 2005

Montgomery County: U.S. Senate candidate Kevin B. Zeese urged Maryland to “join the rest of the nation in recognizing that voter verified paper records are an essential part of transparent, trustworthy elections.”

“Linda Lamone has refused to reconsider her senseless opposition to an independent voter verified paper record despite studies showing security vulnerabilities of computerized voting and experience showing widespread machine failure in Maryland elections. Her ally on this issue nationally has been Kathy Cox, the Secretary of State of Georgia. Now, Lamone is alone is opposing a paper record as Cox has changed her position. It's time for Lamone to do the same,” said Zeese.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution today reported a seismic shift in the elections world as Cathy Cox “announced her office is working to implement the so-called voter-verified paper audit trail.” In a press release Cox said: "I support paper receipts. We are pro-actively exploring options to modify and enhance Georgia's voting system to provide a voter-verified paper trail that gives voters even more confidence in our voting process."

On Monday, the prestigious Carter-Baker Commission joined a growing chorus urging a paper trail for electronic voting. Twenty-six states have passed laws requiring a paper record with electronic voting. New Hampshire has banned e-voting. When Georgia makes its transition Maryland will be the only state in the United States voting without a paper record.

Zeese sent letters to the other candidates running for the U.S. Senate urging them to join him in demanding “a voter verified paper audit trail in time for the 2006 elections. Maryland voters should be voting on machines they trust and that have the ability to independently audit the electronic vote in a transparent recount.”

Kevin Zeese is an running an independent campaign for the U.S. Senate focusing on peace, justice, democracy and prosperity. He was a founder of the non-partisan election reform group TrueVoteMD.org.

Dear

I am writing to you and all the others candidates running with me in the U.S. Senate race in Maryland to ask that you join in urging Maryland to put in place a voter verified paper ballot for electronic voting in time for the 2006 elections.

In the last two days, seismic changes have occurred that make the case opposing paper records untenable:

When Georgia puts in place its system Maryland will be the only state in the United States voting statewide without a paper record verified by the voter. How can that be justified?

Why is a voter verified paper ballot record essential? First, there have been repeated studies showing serious security problems with computerized voting. Security flaws allow votes to be manipulated by various means. It is virtually impossible to discover this manipulation if it occurs.

Second, the experience with the Diebold machines in Maryland has been disappointing. The Montgomery County IT report found that up to 12% of their machines had problems in the 2004 election including machines freezing and crashing in the midst of votes, error messages on the machines, blank cards that record the votes and machines being unable to start. In Baltimore County there were such widespread problems that it took four days for the results to be reported in November 2004 and four months to be made official. Even today, there continue to be inconsistencies between the State and Baltimore County reports on the numbers of votes cast – a discrepancy of 21,000 votes.

But even without these security and performance problems it is critical to have a voter verified paper record because without a paper record it is impossible to have an open, transparent and independent recount. The Diebold machines used by Maryland are unable to perform an independent recount. A paper record preserves the original intent of the voter, the Diebold machine preserves the computer record of the vote. The only recount possible with the Diebold machines is a recount of whatever the computer says occurred with no independent record to compare it to. Thus, if malicious intent or malfunction changed the vote, the recount will merely affirm that malicious or malfunctioned vote count. There is no independent record with which to audit the machine performance. With a voter verified paper record the original intent of the voter is preserved and an independent audit or recount can be conducted. Further, this recount can be transparent so that all candidates, political parties, the media and concerned voters can observe it.

Maryland is in an untenable position in resisting a voter verified paper audit trail. It is time for the state to face-up to the real problems with e-voting and put in place a system that includes a voter verified paper ballot that can be the final vote count if there is any dispute with computerized voting. As a candidate on the ballot in 2006 I hope you will join me in urging Maryland to adopt a voter verified paper ballot in time for the 2006 elections.

Sincerely,

Kevin B. Zeese
Unity Candidate for U.S. Senate
www.KevinZeese.com