1. Making Sure Every Vote Counts in the Digital Era: The Need for Standards Mandating Voter-Verified Paper Ballots Sarah Rovito 2007 WISE Intern August 3, 2007

2. Background

3. Changing Voting Technologies Older Technologies Paper Ballots Lever Machines Punchcards Newer Technologies Optically-Scanned Ballots Direct-Recording Electronic (DRE) Systems

4. Voting Technologies Used by % of Counties

5. Voting Technologies Used by % of Registered Voters

6. Problem While electronic voting systems hold promise for a more accurate and efficient election process, numerous entities have raised concerns about their security and reliability, citing instances of weak security controls, system design flaws, inadequate system version control, inadequate security testing, incorrect system configuration, poor security management, and vague or incomplete voting system standards, among other issues. -David A. Powner and Randolph C. Hite, U.S. Government Accountability Office

7. Problematic Elections Florida All Over Again? March 2002 – Wellington City Council Race –Too close to call with 78 unrecorded votes March 2002 – Boca Raton Mayoral Contest –Incumbent Danciu places 3 rd with 8% undervote November 2006 – FL-13 Congressional Race –18,000 unrecorded votes in Sarasota County –Buchanan (R) beats Jennings (D) by 368 votes

8. Solution Voter-Verified Paper Ballots Optical Scan or DRE System Voter affirms choices cast as intended (Voter-Verified, NOT Voter-Verifiable) Proof that the voter’s choices have been correctly recorded, transmitted, and tallied Provide an independently auditable trail Should be used to produce official election results, not only in event of recount

9. Standards Federal Organizations/Nongovernmental Groups Federal Election Commission –1990 and 2002 Voting Systems Standards –2005 Voluntary Voting System Guidelines Carter-Baker Commission –Building Confidence in U.S. Elections IEEE –P1583 (failed proposed standard) Federal Legislation Help America Vote Act of 2002

10. Current Legislation H.R. 811 (Holt Bill) Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2007 Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require voter-verified permanent paper ballots Compromise and further action? S. 1487 (Feinstein Bill) Ballot Integrity Act of 2007 Mirrors Holt Bill

11. Recommendations Standards Voter-Verified Paper Ballots VVPB used for OFFICIAL election results Continue to develop new, accessible technology Enforcement of Standards Legislation – Holt Bill? 2007 Voluntary Voting System Guidelines GET INVOLVED!!!