Dear Editor,
I was glad to read, in the 2013 resolution of councillor Karin Terziano, that she will be following up on the issue of ensuring a verifiable election process for 2014. (Huntsville Forester, Jan. 9, 2013.)
I believe a return to traditional paper ballots is a good idea and needs to be implemented soon to be available for the 2014 municipal election.
I have several concerns with the electronic voting method.
The most important is the loss of being able to verify the ballot count. If the vote is close, and in the last municipal election, the difference was only 236 votes, with an electronic voting system, there is not a way to recount and or scrutinize each ballot to ensure accuracy.
No matter what electronic voting system is used, it is impossible to detect all vote tampering.
I understand that the electronic system was used to address the needs of the seasonal residents and youth who might chose to vote on-line rather than by paper ballot. However, many computers are unsecured and, in my opinion, mail-in advance votes are pretty straight-forward.
I remember waiting in line on election day, at the last election, at a polling station on Main St., that had to stay open until 10 p.m. that night, as the long line of older voters slowly made their way to the touch screens at the booth. Yesterday’s minute or two with a pencil had turned into a 10 minute stay at the touch screen. Hence, the long wait for a lot of people who were unimpressed with the change.
In short, if the next election is a close one, I want to be sure it is honest, accurate and verifiable.
Marilyn Laycock
Huntsville