Legislature(2003 - 2004)
03/30/2004 08:03 AM House STA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HB 459-PAPER TRAIL FOR ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINE [Contains discussion of HB 320.] Number 0025 CHAIR WEYHRAUCH announced that the first order of business was HOUSE BILL NO. 459, "An Act requiring an auditable paper trail for electronic voting machines; and providing for an effective date." Number 0110 REPRESENTATIVE HOLM moved to adopt the committee substitute (CS) for HB 459, Version 23-LS1686\Q, Kurtz, 3/29/04, as a work draft. Number 0140 CHAIR WEYHRAUCH objected for discussion purposes. CHAIR WEYHRAUCH offered a brief review of the bill. He noted that [Version Q] would add Section 2, which would make the electronic voting machine be a backup to "the scanner version." He mentioned Section 3, regarding the use of electronically generated ballots, and Section 4, which defines the terms [electronically generated ballot and optically scanned ballot]. He deferred to Representative Les Gara. Number 0270 REPRESENTATIVE LES GARA, Alaska State Legislature, as sponsor of HB 459, noted the original idea [behind the bill] was to ensure that there is a paper trail for all ballots. However, it was then realized that touch screen voting machines needed to be available for those with visual disabilities. He explained that that was provided for by federal law. He indicated the desire to keep the [touch screen voting] machines as back-up only and reminded the committee of the discussion during a previous meeting regarding all the problems that would be associated with those machines if they were to become the statewide machine. He noted that people don't have to prove they need to use a touch screen voting machine; they can simply ask to do so. He said, "To the extent technologically feasible and to the extent that there's ... federal funding available, those machines shall be - as soon as possible - also retrofitted to create a paper trail." He said the technology is close; it will be available by 2006. California will require that those machines have a paper trail by 2005. He explained that the language in the bill referring to federal funding being expended only when available was used so that there would be no fiscal note. Number 0411 REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked if the current AccuVote machines would be the default machines, even after the paper trail additions are made to the [touch screen voting] machines. REPRESENTATIVE GARA replied that even after [touch screen voting] machines are retrofitted with a paper trail, they still would have problems regarding the computer code; therefore, they would be kept as the secondary machine. He noted that in other states there have been problems with [touch screen voting] machines. He revealed that the only way to ensure that these machines are accurate is to do a recount every time they are used. Number 0533 REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ asked Representative Gara to discuss access to the software. REPRESENTATIVE GARA noted that there has been litigation in states that have used the [touch screen voting] machines; when people have tried to call for a recount, the response has been that there is no paper trail to do a recount. The only way to find out if those machines perform properly, he said, is to review the software code. However, when people have asked to see the software code, the company who produces it has responded that it is a trade secret. REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ asked, "And that trade secret has higher legal value than the secrecy of the ballot box?" REPRESENTATIVE GARA replied that he doesn't personally believe so, but [the company that owns the software code] will argue that the trade secrets that it holds are federally recognized and preempt the state's rights in that regard. REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ asked if there is anything that would contractually prohibit [the State of Alaska] from getting access to that software as part of a purchase agreement. REPRESENTATIVE GARA suggested that the company may just decide not to sell the machines, which would make it difficult for [the State of Alaska] to provide the machines to those with disabilities. He suggested asking that question of the Division of Elections. Number 0650 CHAIR WEYHRAUCH turned to Section 3, [subsection (b), on page 2, beginning on line 14], which read as follows: (b) Before permitting a voter to vote an electronically generated ballot, the director shall certify that any software used in creating, recording, and counting the ballot is reliable and secure, and that any machine used in casting the ballot will accurately record votes cast. CHAIR WEYHRAUCH explained that the director has to go through a certification process that he/she feels is legally and technically reliable. He said he doesn't think the director will be in a position to be able to certify "without some expertise." He continued, "And they say, you know, 'If you won't let us do this, then we may not be able to use your software, ... because we have to go through the certification process, and I can't do that without that accountability.'" REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ responded, "I don't know how you'd get admission of the evidence if you couldn't prove that the software was accurate." CHAIR WEYHRAUCH suggested there may have to be some sort of confidentiality agreement that is waived in the event of litigation over the validity of the software. Number 0713 REPRESENTATIVE GARA, in response to a question from Representative Seaton, indicated that touch screen voting machines are called DREs [direct recording electronic voting machines]. Number 0766 CHAIR WEYHRAUCH informed the committee that Laura Glaiser had sent an e-mail addressing concerns she had, indicating that she wants to confer with the lieutenant governor's office before the House State Affairs Standing Committee takes action on HB 459. He invited Ms. Glaiser to testify. LAURA GLAISER, Director, Division of Elections, Office of the Lieutenant Governor, said she has a couple of concerns: Her first concern, she related, is how the division would not allow certain people to use the touch screen voting. She surmised that, since it's a state law and voter outreach is done, people would learn that "there's a piece of technology in a polling booth that they can't use." She clarified that she is not saying it can't be done, but that she is concerned that the poll workers will be "wrestling people and telling them, 'You can't vote on that machine, you can only vote on the other machine - that's the law.'" She said she doesn't have an immediate answer, but it is something that can be addressed. MS. GLAISER turned to Section 3, regarding having the director certify software. She recommended the director not be put in that position. She suggested the term, "independently certified" might be used. She mentioned the National Association of [State] Election Directors (NASED), a group that has a "certification means." She also mentioned the Federal Election Commission. She stated that the division has the same concerns that the committee has expressed about the software and wants everything certified before it's used. She noted that a couple of years ago "they" changed the software for the optical scan. She clarified, "The software that drives the touch screen is the same software that drives the optical scan. But, to be fair, the difference is, with optical scanning, you have a marked ballot that you can use to check and counter check." She noted that the certification currently takes place by the SEC [U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]. She added, "If you want an additional layer, that may take some research." Ms. Glaiser clarified that the programming of the software for an election takes place at the Division of Elections, by division employees. Number 0938 MS. GLAISER turned to Section 3 [subsection (c), on page 2, beginning on line 18], which read as follows: (c) The director shall provide for a paper record of each electronically generated ballot that can be (1) reviewed and corrected by the voter at the time the vote is cast; and (2) used for a recount of the votes cast at an election in which electronically generated ballots were used. MS. GLAISER said she doesn't know where technology is right now, but she explained that the touch screen machine prints a receipt next to the voter. In response to a question from Chair Weyhrauch, she confirmed that the machine is similar to those used to check in at airports. She added, "And it would be an addendum to the machines that we've already bought. ... You have that port to be able to put ... additional hardware on there." She said the idea is to keep the receipt safe so that somebody doesn't accidentally pull the receipt off and put it in their pocket and walk off; therefore, [the receipt] would be generated and then "dropped into its own box." She continued as follows: Our concern, again, not having any of this equipment before us is: If you ... see it, it's already printed, and then you say, "Oh no, that wasn't what I wanted." ... How do you get that piece of paper back? How does it not get dropped? Again, we don't have the technology before us. [I'm] not saying that it can't be done, but [it] concerns people that run elections - you know, the staff that's been with the division for years. These are the concerns that they've brought up. How do we get what's best? ... And if we're only letting the disabled, ... blind, and visually impaired, then how do they review and correct? Right now, they believe that the audio count -- I mean, as they ... review the ballot, that's what happens for a blind person is everything's audio and it goes through and says, "You cast this vote for President, this vote for U.S. Senate, this vote for House - would you like to change any of those votes?" And then it provides a way for them to go back and change it. ... Are you asking for another system - a separate system that gives them an audio? Because ... there's an audio ... in the current touch screen that we have. Are you asking for something that double- checks the system? MS. GLAISER said she isn't trying to "creates walls," but just wants [the proposed legislation] to be fair and true, so that the division doesn't find out after it becomes law that it can't implement [the provisions], and so that the new law doesn't block the division from doing something "where everybody's intentions were good." Number 1078 REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ commented that he experienced a recount and appreciated that all the ballots were there. He emphasized that people shouldn't be able to identify which ballot came from which voter, but when there is an ability to look at all the ballots, there is also the ability to recount them. He offered his understanding that that is the gist of the proposed legislation; that there is a physical record of votes, so that "if all the software fizzes out and burns up, you've got a piece of paper that you can say, 'This is a ballot that was cast.'" Number 1128 REPRESENTATIVE SEATON stated that he has a problem with the point just made by Representative Berkowitz, because if there is software generating an inaccurate count and an inaccurate ballot that is not reviewed by anybody, then nothing has been gained. He said, "I think that where everybody's trying to get to is that if there's questions and if there's been problems elsewhere with the software generating ... incorrect votes - other than what people get on the screen - ... there needs to be a correction point in there." He offered his understanding that the reason that 2006 has been discussed is that the technology may not be available [until then]. Number 1187 CHAIR WEYHRAUCH stated that the committee wants to have some practical applications of what it does. He emphasized that it cannot create a mess. Number 1299 MS. GLAISER noted that Georgia, for example, has only touch screens for voting. She clarified that the State of Alaska's Division of Elections has never planned for "a sweep and replace of optical scans and the paper ballots." She said, "In this state, with our power and all the things that can happen on an election day, there will always be a paper ballot available." MS. GLAISER returned to the subject of allowing only the blind and handicapped to use the [touch screen] machine. She pointed out that there will most likely only be one or two votes recorded on that machine in some polling places, which may jeopardize the privacy of those votes. Number 1326 REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG related a story about some friends of his. He said, "Apparently, in the last year or two, there is a new law that helps them vote. And they want to be sure that, pending the implementation of this, they don't lose the right they have acquired under the new law." Number 1350 MS. GLAISER stated her belief that the language that has been deleted from page 1, Section 1 of the bill is related to the law to which Representative Gruenberg's friends referred. She explained that that was a piece of legislation carried by then Senator Loran Leman and Representative Joe Green, in 2002. She said Senator Leman worked with Sandy Sanderson and Lynn Koral. Ms. Glaiser remarked that Ms. Koral worked hard on "this language." REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG noted that Section 6 of the bill would make the bill effective immediately and Section 1 repeals the present law. He asked if [the division] would still legally be able to use the current equipment if it takes a period of time before the new equipment is ready. MS. GLAISER responded that she is not an attorney and would therefore have to check that answer. In response to a comment by Representative Gruenberg that it is an important issue to many people, she replied that it is also important to the lieutenant governor, which is why he asked her to write to "the chairman" to let him know that "we" have concerns. She indicated the importance of meeting the intent of the Help America Vote Act, because the funds that would be used to purchase additional equipment are tied to the proper implementation of the federal law. Number 1390 CHAIR WEYHRAUCH promised, "We'll work on this bill 'til we get it right." Number 1404 REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked what about the current system is broken, such that something new, which might cause problems, is being considered. Number 1414 MS. GLAISER explained that the Help America Vote Act requires that one of the touch screen machines be in every polling place by 2006. When that Act was passed, the machines had not been tested in elections to drive other concerns. She said she decided to purchase 100 machines to use in the 2004 elections for two reasons: First, to make good on an honorable promise to the disabled, blind, and visually impaired, that they could cast an independent ballot. Second, to learn the needs regarding shipping, transport, and storage [before the 2006 deadline]. Number 1485 CHAIR WEYHRAUCH suggested that it might be worthwhile to put a sunset date on the bill, so that if HB 459 passes, it would have to come back before the legislature next year for fine-tuning. Number 1505 MS. GLAISER, in response to a question from Representative Gruenberg, noted that in addition to the previously stated reasons for the touch screen machines, there is also a state law in the books. She cited AS 15.15.030 [paragraph (13)], which read as follows: (13) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the director may provide for voting by use of electronic balloting equipment or optically scanned ballots where the requisite equipment is available. If the director provides for voting by use of electronic balloting equipment, the director shall provide electronic balloting equipment that would allow voters with disabilities, including those who are blind or visually impaired, to cast private, independent, and verifiable ballots. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked what the basis is for the federal law and what the penalty is if the State of Alaska does not meet the [federal] requirement. MS. GLAISER offered her understanding that the intent of having [a touch screen machine] in each polling place is to reach the blind, disabled, and visually impaired. She said the Help America Vote Act was born as a result of the problems in Florida [during the presidential election of 2000] and to replace the punch card system. She expressed that it was never the intent of the sponsors of the Help America Vote Act for touch screen voting machines to completely replace [other forms of voting], but rather that their intent was to have one touch screen machine in every polling place. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked, "How about if there's a polling place that doesn't have a visually impaired voter?" MS. GLAISER said that's not addressed in the federal Act. She said that as the division meets with the regional supervisors and the division staff, it has those concerns. She stated that [the machines] will go out to rural Alaska, which is why she wants to bring them into use during the 2004 elections. She commented that shipping the machines is like shipping a laptop [computer]. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked if it would be a violation of the federal Act to limit [the distribution of touch screen machines] to only those precincts in which somebody has requested them. MS. GLAISER reiterated that she is not an attorney, but suggested that perhaps some research could be done on the issue. She added that it's certainly a reasonable [idea] and one that has been discussed within the division. Number 1673 ROGER GAY, testifying on behalf of himself, stated his belief that voting has to be verifiable for the purpose of a recount. He said he doesn't trust electronics or programmers, because "they are subject to all sorts of mischief by hackers and other people with computer skills." He opined that paper trails are a lot easier to verify than electronic voting. Mr. Gay recommended that the committee be cautious in its implementation of "this procedure." Number 1721 JOHN DAVID RAGAN told the committee that he is a Democrat, a member of the Laborer's Union Local 942 in Fairbanks, an Alaskan resident since 1975, a firefighter with the Ester Volunteer Fire Department, and a former elected board member of the Ester Community Association. He noted that he is also a writer for the Fairbanks area's progressive newspaper, The Ester Republic. He read a selection from an article he wrote in that publication [available in the committee packet], regarding the controversy surrounding the electronic voting machines. Number 1822 MR. RAGAN characterized as most troubling of all an article by Thom Hartmann entitled, "If You Want To Win An Election, Just Control The Voting Machines." The article, he said, reports that the respective Washington D.C. publication, The Hill has confirmed "that former conservative talk-show host and now Republican U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel was [the] head of, and continues to own part interest in, the company that owns the company that installed, programmed, and largely ran the voting machines that were used by most of the citizens of Nebraska." He continued as follows: The article says that when Hagel first ran there for the U.S. Senate in 1996, his company's computer- controlled voting machine showed he'd won stunning upsets in both the primary and the general election. The Washington Post said Hagel's Senate victory against the incumbent Democratic governor was the major Republican upset in the November election. According to Bev Harris of www.blackboxvoting.com, Hagel won virtually every demographic group, including many large Black communities that had never before voted Republican. Hagel was the first Republican in 24 years to win a Senate seat in Nebraska. Hartman says that six years later, Hagel ran again and won in a landslide. About 80 percent of those votes were counted by computer-controlled voting machines put in place by the company affiliated with Hagel, built by that company, programmed by that company. "This is a big story - bigger than Watergate ever was," said Hagel's Democratic opponent in the 2002 Senate race, Charlie Matulka. Number 1877 MR. RAGAN said the article goes on to detail election problems in Georgia. He said he has citations of all the articles that he quoted. He clarified, "This is part of a larger article which discusses the lawsuit brought by the [National Association for the Advancement of Colored People] (NAACP) and the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in the 2000 elections, against the Florida secretary of state's office - which they won." He explained that the article details that in the Florida election, nearly 200,000 qualified Democratic voters had their constitutional rights to vote in the election denied through "purges" of the voting records and "a number of other tactics" that were declared illegal after the election. He stated that millions of Democrats believe that President Bush is in office due to a rigged election in Florida. He opined that if that election looks bad, the next one will "really look bad," given the allegations against the computer-controlled voting machines. He explained that "this information" has been widely circulated on the Internet, as well as to all members of the "Interior Democrats." He offered his understanding that there probably will be litigations and challenges in every election in which these voting machines are used. He said he thinks that people, no matter their party affiliation, have the responsibility to ensure that the voting system is absolutely transparent and that there's no question that the vote is being programmed or tampered with. Number 1968 MR. RAGAN noted that there already exists an optical scanner system. He concluded as follows: If we're going to use these electronic machines, the central point is: ... There must be a paper ballot generated; it must be verifiable by the voter as corresponding to the election vote and ended by that voter; the paper ballot must be the legal ballot, for purposes of a recount; and, in every election, even when there's no recount, there must be random checks of at least five percent of the precincts to ensure that the paper ballots generated by the electronic machine correspond to the number of votes counted in that precinct by the electronic machine. Number 2022 REPRESENTATIVE LYNN asked Mr. Ragan to define the word "progressive," which he noted Mr. Ragan used in his testimony. MR. RAGAN offered his understanding that "progressive" is currently used by the Democratic party to correspond to the left wing of that party, which sees itself as continuing the New Deal and the progressive movement in the Midwest and in Democratic politics. Number 2073 REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG expressed that he doesn't want anybody's political views to influence the factual statements that Mr. Ragan made. He said if there are problems with the machines, they are problems, no matter how a person casts his/her vote. Number 2099 LYNN KORAL, testifying on behalf of Alaska Independent Blind, told the committee that she appreciates "the problem with the machine," but she also doesn't want the legislature to break the promise it made to the blind and disabled population regarding voting machines. She explained that Alaska Independent Blind is a grass roots advocacy organization that fought hard to have the electronic machines. She indicated that the late Frank Haas had worked to get access to the voting ballot, but that did not occur before his death. MS. KORAL agreed that there can be problems with hackers, but she said previous testifiers helped make her point, because "there certainly wasn't any guarantee with the paper ballot." She reiterated that she wants to know that the legislature is not going to break its promise. She said, "We've waited far too long, ... and I think it's about time that you start allowing us to vote independently, secretly, and verifiably, so that people can't judge us by the votes we cast." Number 2140 CHAIR WEYHRAUCH asked Ms. Koral to explain what she meant by the promise made by the legislature. MS. KORAL explained that it's a promise that [Alaska Independent Blind] believes the legislature made when it passed HB 320. She noted that Frank Haas was a Republican who died in 1990, and she said he had wanted private, verifiable balloting, "especially because we're a small state." She said, "It's a promise that I believe you will break if you delay this implementation of the Help America Vote Act and the Frank Haas Act." In response to a question from Chair Weyhrauch, she explained that [the Frank Haas Act] is Alaska State law. Number 2185 REPRESENTATIVE SEATON said the bill "eliminates that language" in Section 1, but reinstates it in another Section on page 2, beginning on line 10. He explained, "It wouldn't change the status of that law at all." MS. KORAL asked why the language was moved. CHAIR WEYHRAUCH explained that it was moved around to try to implement the provisions of the bill to make any software associated with electronic voting verifiable by the division. He explained that it was more of a drafting issue than a policy issue. MS. KORAL asked, "How am I going to verify it in the voting booth as a blind person?" CHAIR WEYHRAUCH responded, "Well, you wouldn't." MS. KORAL asked, "What are you going to do about that?" CHAIR WEYHRAUCH told Ms. Koral that the committee is working on that. Number 2233 REPRESENTATIVE GARA stated the whole intent of the bill is to say, "While we're a little bit worried about the technology associated with the [touch screen voting] machines, we're going to leave the other machines as the default machine for people who don't have visual impairments." He emphasized that there's no intention to delay the implementation of the [touch screen voting] machines; they will be available in the 2004 election. MS. KORAL said she wants to know that others understand that "if we have to verify the ballot, it doesn't mean that somebody has to be there in the voting booth to verify it with us, because obviously ... I'm not going to be able to read paper unless you have a scanner in there with me." REPRESENTATIVE GARA responded that that's fair. He said, "Actually, you don't have to verify the ballot. You'll get a paper ballot, and whether you want to have somebody there with you to verify it or not - that's totally up to you." Number 2370 JIM SYKES testified that he has been involved in many voting issues in the last 14 years, and he has "made" his professional life in the area of technology - mainly with audio and video. TAPE 04-50, SIDE B Number 2375 MR. SYKES said new technologies generally have some "down sides" that are not always considered and, until the bugs are worked out, the technology can actually be detrimental in some cases. He said this is what concerns him about electronic voting. He noted that he has had many discussions with the director of the Division of Elections since December, regarding many articles and problems that have arisen "with these varying machines." MR. SYKES agreed with the previous comments of Mr. Gay that there needs to be a paper trail. He opined that an election needs to be auditable; there has to be a way of proving the vote. He said, "If a machine spits out a result, someone can say, 'Well, the machine has given us the result.' But there is no way to prove one way or the other if that is the result of what the voter intended." He revealed that he is neither a Democrat nor a Republican, but he wants to ensure that everybody's vote counts. MR. SYKES stated he was disturbed about a previous comment made by Representative Berkowitz. He offered his understanding that Representative Berkowitz had said that it isn't important to be able to have the voter verify his/her ballot. He admitted that perhaps he had misunderstood. Mr. Sykes said, "We have the optical scan ballot - the AccuVote; you can take a look at the ballot and verify those." He stated his concern with implementing a technology that is not proven and not auditable "for anybody, regardless of whether it is the blind or not." He said it's risky and "we oughtn't go there." However, he stated his belief that technology offers a solution. MR. SYKES continued as follows: If we're going to use these machines, there can be an audio playback for the ballot for a blind person that votes on [a] touch screen. There's also technology - and it's easily available - to print out the results of the ballot in Braille, so that the person can independently verify - without the presence of another person in the voting booth - that this is the way they cast their vote. And that's the way that can be verified: you've got audio; you've got Braille; and the paper ballot is generated. This must be a requirement before these machines can be used, in my opinion, because how are you going to offer equal protection? Let's say, for example, that someone cast their vote on ... the touch screen machines and the vote is in question. How do you prove the vote, unless you can audit that? I believe that the suggestion that you recount 5 percent of the precincts - or perhaps even 10 percent - is a good one. This should be done with the AccuVote machines, as well. Currently, only three precincts are recounted. The AccuVote machines can also be hacked and that's another issue for another bill. MR. SYKES encouraged the committee to require that a printout can be independently verified by the voter on the touch screen machines, and to ensure that there is a paper trail in the event of a recount. He stated that he doesn't want anyone who is visually impaired and uses one of the touch screen machines to have his/her rights violated by a machine that might be tampered with or might not be recording the vote appropriately, as has been demonstrated in other states. He expressed appreciation for the committee's consideration of the bill. He noted that the federal law doesn't have to be implemented until 2006, and he opined that [the division] should accommodate as early an implementation as possible, but not at the expense of questioning anybody's vote. Number 2210 REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ [regarding Mr. Sykes' interpretation of what he had previously stated] clarified that what he doesn't want is for the state to have access to his individual ballot to verify how he votes, for example. He said, "It's one thing for me to be able to look at my ballot and determine that ... the vote is recorded the way I want to do it, but I think it's an entirely separate thing for the state to be able to come in and look at individual voters and say they voted accurately or they didn't vote accurately." MR. SYKES thanked Representative Berkowitz for his clarification. Number 2179 MS. GLAISER, for purposes of clarification, informed the committee that the current touch screen does have a tape running inside which records the votes. She said she understands "all the nuances" and where the concerns are regarding problems and hacking. She continued as follows: But just so you know what the machines really do: ... By taking that card with the chip in it out of each individual machine that's been locked up and reinserting it in the GEMS [Global Election Management System] computer here, a ballot can be printed from that card. Again, I'm not saying that you still don't have concerns, but I want you to know that there is an auditable trail that was required by the federal government. The machines we have do meet federal certification. That may not address all of your concerns, but I just want to be real fair so that you all understand ... what the system's capable of doing - that it does have an auditable trail now. It does allow a blind or visually impaired person - through an audio - to verify that, yes, that is that ballot they want to cast. Our current system does that. Number 2126 REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ mentioned a bill by Congressman [Rush] Holt. He said he wonders what the status is regarding that bill. He observed that that bill seems to have a fairly detailed description of voter verification and audit capacity, "which goes to what I think is the heart of what we're trying to get at here." Number 2112 MS. GLAISER responded that she has not received an update regarding that piece of legislation. Number 2098 REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG said he is concerned after listening to the testimony from both hearings on HB 459 thus far. He continued as follows: I have heard nothing good about this system, no good policy reason for implementing it, a large cost involved, possible fraud. I am not unmindful of the quite important U.S. Senate race that is coming up and the effect this might have on ... the integrity of that race. And I have yet to be convinced that there is, in fact, a legal requirement that we do it, and the penalties if we don't do it - particularly this next election. And I ... would request that the committee seek a legal opinion on this issue and ... maybe from [Legislative Legal and Research Services], a quick audit of the problems that they've had, because unless this Representative is convinced that we must do it and - number two - that this is not going to cause more problems than it will fix, I can't support ... the whole concept of this thing. MS. GLAISER stated her belief that the promise to the disabled, blind, and visually impaired is the part that really drove everybody's hearts on the implementation of "this," certainly in Alaska, but also in the federal legislation. She said, "We're trying to find a way to make it work so that we can still protect the integrity of elections." Number 2026 REPRESENTATIVE SEATON stated he has a problem with the idea that there may be only two or three people in a community who [use the touch screens] to vote. He said a report of what is done will be made and "all of a sudden we have a way of knowing how ... those three people that were blind in that district voted." He said that if the legislature is building enough safeguards in [the proposed legislation] to make it work so that it's verifiable and there's a paper trail, he is concerned that the legislature also make it so that "everybody else has to use the other system." He said he would like the committee to consider that as it continues forward with the bill. Number 1974 CHAIR WEYHRAUCH said, "When issues touch across our democratic spectrum of politics, it effects all [of] us, and we're all interested in ensuring a fundamentally fair and safe voting process." He said he gets offended when people attach some sort of political motive to "this." Number 1933 REPRESENTATIVE GARA returned to Ms. Glaiser's previously stated concern about the provision in the bill stating that the software code has to be verified for accuracy by the director. He explained that "director" means the director or his/her designee, as long as the director gives the final approval. He suggested an amendment could be made to that effect. REPRESENTATIVE GARA responded to a previously expressed concern regarding how a voter would prove that he/she is entitled to use these machines. He said he doesn't want somebody to have to show proof, that essentially they just have to ask. He suggested that an option for the division would be to have a form that would certify that somebody has a disability that requires them to use the touch screen machine. He said Ms. Glaiser estimated that there won't be that many people using the machines. REPRESENTATIVE GARA noted that Ms. Glaiser had said that the software that is used now is the same as the software that is used in touch screen machines. He clarified that part of the software is the same, while part is not. He explained that the current machines don't have software that tells the machine how to "translate what somebody touches into an internal computer vote." He said that's the part that people have complained about nationwide regarding the DRE machines. The optical scanning machine tells the machine how to translate what it scans on a paper ballot. Number 1855 REPRESENTATIVE GARA, in response to previous comments made by Representative Seaton, stated that the technology is not there right now. He said there's one company that produces a paper record "right there for the voter." He clarified that Ms. Glaiser spoke about the fact that "we" have a machine that doesn't produce the paper record right there for the voter, but produces it for the Division of Elections later on. He continued as follows: Ultimately, in a number of years, if everybody becomes comfortable with these DRE machines and the glitches are worked out, ... maybe they do become the default machine. Right now, if you read the articles, the part of the software that translates the thing that you touch to an actual vote inside the machine is manipulatable. And people have questions about these machines. And, even if they produce a paper ballot for you as you're sitting there - let's say the election is over and the machine has "misrecorded" every tenth vote ... - the only way the paper trail helps you is if you then do the recount. ... We don't want to have to do a recount every single election. I would say that, for now, we know the AccuVote machines work very well. Let's make the DREs available to people with handicaps and visual impairments. Let's leave the other as the default machine and, if some day the facts change and everybody becomes very comfortable with the DREs with the paper trail, then we can authorize the Division of Elections to go ahead and make that ... the default machine. Number 1770 REPRESENTATIVE WEYHRAUCH announced that HB 459 was [heard and held].
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