Proposed law in NJ to outlaw paper ballots

[FogerRox]

ASSEMBLY, No. 2448
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
212th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 6, 2006

Sponsored by:
Assemblyman RICHARD A. MERKT
District 25 (Morris)

SYNOPSIS
Requires use of electronic voting machines in elections; reimburses certain
counties for funds spent on election equipment.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.

An Act requiring electronic voting machines be used in elections in this
State, supplementing Title 19 of the Revised Statutes, and making an
appropriation.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. a. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, only
electronic voting machines having the following characteristics shall be
used in any election conducted in this State:

(1) an LCD screen which displays the ballot to the voter;

(2) touch-screen selection of the voter's choices;

(3) a clearly visible electronic mark which indicates each of the voter's
selections;

(4) scroll buttons which allow the voter to move through the ballot's pages;

(5) a "cast-vote" button to record the voter's selections;

(6) a print-out and an electronic cartridge which indicate the results of
balloting when the polls close; and

(7) to the extent applicable, the criteria set forth in R.S.19:48-1 as
determined by the Attorney General.

b. The use of mechanical voting machines, electronic systems using ballot
cards, or paper ballots in any election is prohibited, except that paper
ballots may continue to be used as emergency ballots, provisional ballots,
or absentee ballots.

2. a. Each county which purchases electronic voting machines in order to
comply with the provisions of this act shall be reimbursed by the Attorney
General for the cost thereof; and

b. a county that has appropriated and expended county funds for the purpose
of upgrading election equipment at any time during the five-year period
immediately preceeding the effective date of this act may apply for an
amount of State funds equal to the county funds appropriated and expended
for that purpose.

3. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Law and
Public Safety such amounts as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of
section 2 of this act, as certified by the Director of the Division of
Budget and Accounting.

4. This act shall take effect 180 days after enactment.

STATEMENT
This bill prohibits the use of mechanical voting machines, punch card
electronic systems using ballot cards, and paper ballots and provides that
only electronic voting machines will be used in elections in this State. All
other types of voting machines would be prohibited, except that paper
ballots could continue to be used as emergency ballots, provisional ballots
or absentee ballots.

Under the bill, the Attorney General would reimburse counties for the cost
of purchasing the new machines, and any county that has spent county funds
for the purpose of upgrading election equipment during the five-year period
immediately preceeding the effective date of the bill may apply for an
amount of State funds equal to the county funds spent for that purpose.

[Syrinx]

1. Of course the sponsor is a Republican

http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/merkt.asp

[FogerRox]

5. & Hesa former NJ Dupty Attorney General-- the NJ AG runs elections in NJ

Would this man have had contact with voting machine vendors?

[punpirate]

2. It's not like Merkt is...

... way behind the news cycle or anything.

Oh, my mistake... he's a Republican. :)

[no_hypocrisy]

3. I would expect Governor Jon Corzine to veto the bill if passed.

Not enough republicans to override his veto.

P.S. Prior DU post re. NJ Appeals Court deciding on unconstitutionality of electonic voting.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x412385

[EST]

4. Decapitating the hydra of corruption requires millions of

hands and swords. The truly amazing thing is that they keep doing this even though they know we're on to them. These criminals will not stop until they are in prison.
Paper ballots are the only solution.

[Bill Bored]

6. It's got everything but the vendor's logo on it. Which one is it Roj? nt

[Wilms]

7. Consider this lawsuit, directed at VVPAT-Less DRE's

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x412385

I wonder if it is what sponsered (so to speak) the bill.

[FogerRox]

8. Since it seems

to have a provision for a small face DRE-- I dont think its Sequoia. Since NJ is about 65% Sequoia-- it may be that another venfdor wants in-- when the 2005 VVSS becomes mandatory-- all the new Sequoia equipment will have to be replaced. Which is a great oppurtunity for another vendor to make some inroads in the NJ market.

Think ES&S or Diebold.

[Bill Bored]

9. I hear NY is considering Avante

But perhaps not the op scan.
Know anything?