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DKMplwd
Citizen
Username: Dank3265
Post Number: 33
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Friday, June 10, 2005 - 11:50 am: |     |
"It's a no go on new voting machines"
Star-Ledger, July 10, 2005
There was never a clearer, more dramatic example of the importance of GRASP and the power of grassroots political organizations than last night's Essex County Board of Freeholders meeting. In an unprecented action, the Freeholders, spurred on by GRASP members and others, voted NO on authorizing funding for the purchase of new electronic voting equipment.
Despite input from heavy-hitters from the NJ Attorney General's office, representatives of voting machine companies, and the recommendation of the County Board of Elections supervisor, Carmine Casciano, five Freeholders, including South Orange Freeholder, Carol Clark, recognized the validity of the position we've supported, that Freeholders simply did not have all the information needed to make an informed decision to approve funding at this time.
Among those voting to approve funding were Pat Sebold, our June meeting speaker, and Bilal Beasely, the Maplewood Freeholder (who has also been asked to speak at this meeting).
To those who haven't been involved in GRASP or questioned how much influence a group like ours can have on the election system, this vote showed how effective, organized, informed grassroots action can prevent bad actions. That's what we're all about.
But the work can't stop with this one vote. The County still has to take action to purchase some type of equipment to comply with federal regulations. To be part of taking the critical next steps in this hard battle, please contact the heads of the GRASP Voting Issues committee: Roger Fox, rdanafox@yahoo.com or Jay Kappraff, kappraff@verizon.net
We thank and congratulate the members of GRASP who attended the meeting or wrote letters to Freeholders, This is a moment you can be very proud of!!
For further information on GRASP, contact:
Dan Kaslow, grassrootsaction@comcast.net
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mjc
Citizen
Username: Mjc
Post Number: 664
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Friday, June 10, 2005 - 12:50 pm: | |
Thanks, Dan & GRASP!!
from the deplorably uninvolved MC |
C Bataille
Citizen
Username: Nakaille
Post Number: 2066
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, June 10, 2005 - 12:51 pm: | |
Do you folks at GRASP have any preferred voting machines in mind? I imagine there are pros and cons to all of the machines but there is probably one your group finds less flawed. If so could you enumerate the reasons? Thanks.
Cathy |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 7495
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, June 10, 2005 - 4:24 pm: | |
I'm no expert, but I really like the ones with the heavy metal levers. I gather the problem with them is that they've been out of production for a very long time and parts are not available.
I'm a technologist by trade. I promote technology. I've learned there are times when not to apply technology. For instance, if a real estate agent can keep all notes in a box of index cards, who am I to say that's wrong?
The goal of efficiency is laudable, but efficiency is also good for those who want to defraud an election. Our elections require a large hierarchy of many volunteers. That's a system that is difficult to corrupt. If we allowed efficient voting on the internet, one person could introduce something in once place and change everything. Let it be inefficient. It's worth it to get it right. |
Waxwings
Supporter
Username: Waxwings
Post Number: 32
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Friday, June 10, 2005 - 7:25 pm: | |
Speaking as one who has assisted in hauling the enormously heavy 50 or 60+ year old voting machines into place and who has spent untold hours cranking them open ( you would not believe how much work it takes!) for the generally well over 60 year old folks who work at the polls for the past 15 years, I don't care what kind of new machines we have, but PLEASE let them be lighter in weight and easier to open...I'm still recovering from June 8!! |
gotcha
Citizen
Username: Gotcha
Post Number: 10
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Friday, June 10, 2005 - 9:47 pm: | |
We need younger poll workers then, not new machines. Sacrificing intergrity for physical ease just isn;t up there in my list of priorities. |
jeff oconnell
Citizen
Username: Jeffo
Post Number: 15
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Friday, June 10, 2005 - 10:24 pm: | |
i volunteered as a poll worker for tuesday's election because
i'm skeptical of electronic voting but was curious to see
the mechanical machines working first hand.
i agree with waxwings: the machines are heavy, bulky, and take alot
of work to set up and break down, but - as a technologist as well -
i agree with tom: we should be skeptical of new technologies if what
we have works.
but all those issues aside, i encourage anyone that can spare a day
to consider volunteering for the next election.
i found the experience extremely rewarding. i met some great people,
saw our political process at work first hand, and - at the end of
the day - really felt like i'd contributed something back.
if you're interested in volunteering, probably the best thing
to do is call the essex county board of elections at 973.621.5070.
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Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 7500
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, June 11, 2005 - 1:01 am: | |
I think it's possible to design and build a reliable, verifiable voting machine. It can be as efficient as we need it to be and not a bit more, if we specify exactly what that is. And it can be light and much easier to use mechanically for the poll workers. We've come a long way in 60 years in mechanical and electrical and electronic innovation.
The only real question is, will the political system allow such a dream machine to be built? |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 5773
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, June 11, 2005 - 7:37 am: | |
I don't much care what kind of voting machines we use as long as they are user friendly, accurate, reliable and relatively tamper-proof.
No matter how well made a voting machine is, it will eventually break down. I know of at least one machine which jammed on Tuesday (while a voter was in the booth) and Annette reported a separate problem with an illegible figure on the recording tape from what I assume was a separate machine. We may be getting to the point where we have to consider replacements for the more arthritic of our voting machines, especially if spare parts may no longer be available. |
Pizzaz
Citizen
Username: Pizzaz
Post Number: 1930
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Monday, June 13, 2005 - 7:43 pm: | |
Congrats to Grasp for airing a strong discontent with the original proposal. I'm with Tom, there needs to be full consideration of the features and long term costs of servicing the systems to replace our mechanical dinosaurs. |
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