EAC - Voluntary Voting System Guidelines

Name : | Jenny Rose Flanagan
Organization : | Colorado Common Cause
Post Date : | 9/30/2005
General Comments
Comment : | Accountability of vendors is another important measure that should be taken to rebuild trust. The companies that produce equipment for elections must be held to a far higher standard of accountability and transparency. State and local elections officials must be far more vigilant in their oversight of the vendors. The government, not the vendors, must be in control of our system of voting. • Vendors should adhere to strict nonpartisan policies and practices. • There must be a competitive and open contracting processes for purchase of voting machines. • There must be strict conflict of interest codes for elections officials and vendors. • Testing of machines should be done publicly and by a truly independent body. Testing should be done at every step of the process, including random post election audits of machines. As reforms are implemented, educating voters regarding efforts taken to enhance security and accuracy of voting systems is as important a step as the actions themselves. [Statements submitted at EAC public hearing, June 30, 2005, Denver, CO]