Gilroy
– Electronic voting has already taken root in Santa Clara
County, but the effort to perfect the system is far from over,
according to Congressman Mike Honda, D-San Jose. He and has staff
have organized a panel discussion to explore the pros and cons of
electronic voting as the federal government g
ears up to craft a permanent national standard.
Gilroy – Electronic voting has already taken root in Santa Clara County, but the effort to perfect the system is far from over, according to Congressman Mike Honda, D-San Jose. He and has staff have organized a panel discussion to explore the pros and cons of electronic voting as the federal government gears up to craft a permanent national standard.
Honda said he’s hosting the meeting because he is concerned about the role that electronic voting machines play in the democratic process.
“After the 2004 election there were multiple reports of voting irregularities from precincts that employed electronic voting machines. These reports are a red flag that we need to go further in ensuring the integrity of the process and technology used in casting and counting votes,” he said of the Monday meeting.
Honda said he plans to take the information from the panel discussion “back to Capitol Hill.” He also plans to submit the findings to a recently formed bipartisan commission, headed by former President Jimmy Carter and former Secretary of State James Baker.
The list of experts speaking includes Jesse Durazo, Santa Clara County’s registrar of voters, who was hired by the county to lead the transition to an electronic voting system.
Durazo said the county never had problems with the former paper-based system, but he lauded the new electronic voting for its greater ability to serve the needs of non-English-speaking voters, as well as its accuracy. He said independent statistical analysis of elections since Nov. 2003, when the county instituted electronic voting, has confirmed 100 percent accuracy in the system.
In addition to Durazo, the panel will include professors from San Jose State and Stanford universities, as well as representatives from the business community.
Who:
E-Voting Panel
What:
Experts will join Congressman Mike Honda to discuss electronic voting
When:
7 to 9pm, Monday
Where:
Mayer Theater, Santa Clara University, 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara
