Paper Ballot Bill Among Those that Clear Legislature in Final Hours

[Rosco T.]

Can't belive no one has posted this yet..

http://www.abqjournal.com/news/xgr/apfinal02-16-06.htm

Paper Ballot Bill Among Those that Clear Legislature in Final Hours

Thursday, February 16, 2006


SANTA FE — Lawmakers approved a flurry of bills in the final hours of the session that ended Thursday, including a measure that would impact voters across the state by requiring all counties to use paper ballot systems. Voters would fill in spaces on the ballots for the candidates they wanted, then feed ballots into a tabulation machine. Gov. Bill Richardson advocated the system, saying it would help rebuild public confidence in elections.

House Voters and Elections Chairman Edward Sandoval, D-Albuquerque, said the nation was built on the public's right to vote and have those votes count. The bill "will make people feel more comfortable that their vote does count and it won't be lost or go someplace else,'' he said. Supporters contend paper systems are more reliable, provide better information for post-election auditing and may be easier for some voters to use.

(snip)

House Minority Leader Ted Hobbs, R-Albuquerque, called the legislation a "terrific error." "It's a step backward in this state," he said. "Paper ballots are expensive and they're more susceptible to fraud." In addition to causing delays, Sen. Dianna Duran, R-Tularosa, said the requirement for paper ballots would leave the state "captive to a single voting system provider'' and eliminate meaningful competition among vendors.

(more)

[upi402]

1. paper more susceptible to fraud??? -only a Republitard

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:
traitors to America
betrayors of democracy

[Fridays Child]

4. Orwellian and typical of the GOP.

Ignorance is strength and paper ballots are susceptible to fraud.

[upi402]

5. war is peace

submission is freedom

[cyclezealot]

2. I hope they got flak back for that.

They should never have the last word on something that preposterous.

[DLnyc]

3. Ahhh, follow the $$$$

'"captive to a single voting system provider'' and eliminate meaningful competition among vendors.'

very telling comment. Although I am quite sure the motive for installing electronic voting machines was to make stealing elections more convenient and less messy, the method is money. That is, local officials are bribed with kickbacks to approve this machine or that machine.

Personally, I don't think of profit potential as the most important criteria in deciding which type of electoral machinery should be used. Generally, the only reason I can think of for someone to whine about 'elminating meaningful competition among vendors' is if they lost out on some kickbacks.

Not trying to be bitter here--just trying to be objective about HOW they are getting local governments to use these stupid machines.