The Oregonian, November 6, 2003

Electronic voting is trustworthy in Oregon

11/06/03

Bill Bradbury

IN MY OPINION

A cross the nation, there has been growing concern about the reliability and trustworthiness of electronic, touch-screen voting devices. Last Friday, The Oregonian printed a wire story ("Distrust of electronic voting machines is on the rise," The Associated Press) discussing some of these worries -- fraud, the ability to recount, confidence in technology. I want to assure voters that things are different in Oregon.

Because Oregonians vote by mail, we will retain paper ballots for every voter. These paper ballots are tallied by optical scanning machines -- similar to the machines used for standardized tests -- soon to be in place in all Oregon counties. While some states are replacing all their voting equipment with touch-screen devices, the Oregon vote-by-mail system of paper ballots simply does not contemplate a full switch to touch-screen voting.

In mail voting, the envelope containing each paper ballot is checked against each voter's registration signature card to prevent fraud. Elections officials then keep the ballots in case a recount is necessary.

Electronic, touch-screen voting devices are an option to make voting more accessible and independent for people with disabilities. The federal Help America Vote Act requires as much, and we are working closely with the disabled community in testing voting equipment to ensure that their needs are met.

The capabilities of these new machines are dramatic: A sight-impaired voter can use headphones to have the ballot read to her; a voter who cannot use his hands can puff on a straw to indicate his choice. Technology is enabling voters with disabilities to participate in elections on the same terms as other voters, with privacy.

The Oregon plan for implementing the Help America Vote Act calls for each county to have at least two electronic voting devices, one permanently housed at the county elections office, and one mobile unit that can be transported by election staff to a location that suits the voter. These machines will allow people with disabilities to cast their votes with the same confidentiality and independence that others take for granted. We intend to have the electronic voting option for disabled voters in place by 2006.

Oregon law requires that election recounts be conducted by hand. Electronic voting devices to be used in Oregon must, therefore, produce a voter verified paper record of each vote cast.

Elections officials have watched the growing criticisms of touch-screen voting machines. We've read the articles about security concerns, and we are confident that Oregon's unique vote-by-mail system and our close working relationship with the disabled community will serve to protect election integrity.

Bill Bradbury is Oregon secretary of state.