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September 18, 2007, 01:38 PM ET
Campaigning for and Against a Paper Trail
Legislation pending in the House of Representatives that would require a paper record of each vote cast in every election is being promoted by computer-security researchers, including Edward W. Felten, of Princeton University.
But at a news conference today in Washington, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation urged the public to oppose the bill (H.R. 811), called the Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act. It stalled in the House this month over concerns raised by groups representing the disabled and state and local governments.
“We support verifiable audit trails, but we disagree that paper is the best solution or should be mandated to the exclusion of other technology,” the foundation says in a report released at the event. Rep. Vernon Ehlers, a Michigan Republican, supports the foundation’s efforts and was scheduled to appear at the event to promote his own legislation (H.R. 2360), the Voting Enhancement and Security Act of 2007. But he failed to show up.
The foundation argues that the integrity of elections can be maintained using only electronic ballots. Paper ballots can be modified, spoiled, stolen, and stuffed into ballot boxes, it notes. Those views are shared by at least one academic, Merle S. King, chairman of the computer-science department at Kennesaw State University. —-Andrea L. Foster
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