Reply #6: LTTE: Optical scan machines best for secure voting system [View All]

[MelissaB]

Optical scan machines best for secure voting system

Letter to the editor
July 13, 2005

Congratulations for the excellent article on July 6 regarding optical scan voting. I attended the presentation, and I found Brooke Sherman's story a first-rate summary of the issues and concerns raised.

Optical scan voting includes a paper record of each vote cast, thus allowing for accuracy in case of a recount. It has worked successfully in many states. The touchscreen or push-button voting device leaves no paper record and, like any computer, is subject to error and the possible calamity of votes being irretrievably lost. The optical scan device is far less costly to purchase, use and store than the touchscreen or push-button.

Since voters are already angry and suspicious about voting irregularities in Florida in the 2000 general election and in Ohio in 2004, it is essential that we have a voting process and voting machinery that can be trusted to record accurately the wishes of the electorate.

Our Chemung County officials should read the July 6 article and weigh very carefully the success record of optical scan voting versus the potential problems and actual disasters that have occurred with touchscreen or push-button devices.

More: http://www.stargazettenews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050713/OPINION02/507130321