Our anti-BBV bill

[crispini]

Well, I just had a brief chat with Harryette about this bill:

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlo/79R/billtext/HB00166I.HTM

I'm not really sure I like it -- says the paper trail is not a ballot -- but I'm gonna give the author some feedback and work with Citizens for Equality to tweak it.

I'm kind of excited about this! what do ya'll think? at least it's a starting point! Let's keep our eyes on this-- if we don't get meaningful voting reform through at the federal level we can certainly try at the state!!!

[sonias]

1. Crispini that's a good idea

Aaron Pena and Elliot Shapleigh do need to hear the feedback on it. Pena is from the Rio Grande Valley by the way and Shapleigh has filed the companion bill in the Senate. Lots of us agree that the verified by the voter paper trail should be the legal ballot, and that Pena needs to re-write that. I agree that this was a good starting point.

Sonia

[Lithos]

2. Great news

Thanks for sharing this! Definitely a starting point as you say. Please keep us informed as this develops.

L-

[derby378]

3. Just spoke with Harryette & Co. about it, too

I want a total ban on electronic touchscreen machines in Texas. They gave me Madeline Hervey's contact info.

[GOPisEvil]

4. That's a good start. But let's remove "paper trail" from the language.

The electronic voting machine must produce a voter-verified paper BALLOT, which then becomes the instrument of record.

[derby378]

5. Here's the version I want to see

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to forbidding the use of direct recording electronic voting machines.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 129, Election Code, is amended by adding
Section 129.002 to read as follows:

Sec. 129.002. DISQUALIFICATION OF DIRECT RECORDING ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES.

(a) A voting system that consists of direct recording electronic voting machines may not be used in any municipal, county, state, or Federal election in the State of Texas.

(1) Direct electronic voting machines disqualified under Sec. 129.002 include but are not limited to:

(A) Diebold Accu-Vote TS,
(B) ES&S Ivotronic,
(C) Danaher ELECTronic 1242,
(D) Microvote MV-464 and Microvote Infinity,
(E) Sequoia AVC Advantage and Sequoia AVC Edge,
(F) Shouptronic 1242,
(G) Hart Intercivic eSlate,
(H) Fidlar Doubleday EV 2000, and
(I) Unilect Patriot.

(2) Knowingly and intentionally approving any direct electronic voting machine enumerated in Sec. 129.002(a)(1) for use in at least one municipal, county, state, and/or Federal election in the State of Texas shall be considered a third-degree felony punishable as per Section 12.34 of the Texas Penal Code.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect January 1, 2006.