EAC - Voluntary Voting System Guidelines

Name : | Rachel Garner
Organization : | N/A
Post Date : | 9/30/2005
General Comments
Comment : | 5] In this computer age, a vote audit system needs to have the following features. a) Exit poles should be conducted at randomly selected locations by qualified independent non-political organizations as the first step in verification of the accuracy of the results reported by the voting machines. b) If there is a discrepancy between the exit poles and the computer reported results of more than the margin of error or 3%, the candidates would be entitled to ask and receive a manual recount at the expense of the government agency. c) In addition each voter should be furnished with a printed report and the ability to correct mistakes before the machine confirms the vote. This "voting receipt" should be given to the election committee and kept on file in a save place for at least one year. d) In addition, the election commissioner should make a copy of the computer program used in the voting machine immediately prior to the day of election. This copy should be kept in a safe place and made available to independent computer programmers for examination if a recount is called for. Such an examination could help determine if the voting machine was accurately reporting the votes cast. Such a vote audit system could help prevent vote fraud, help restore faith in government and encourage more people to exercise their right and responsibility as citizens.