City Council meeting
The Denver City Council gave final approval Monday for an ordinance that promotes an agreement between the City and County of Denver and the State of Colorado concerning the "HAVA Compliant Voting System" program. HAVA is the Help America Vote Act of 2002. The proposed bill allocates $1.4 million for the update, addition, and maintenance of 240 new electronic voting machines.
The controversy over electronic voting is that while it ensures the rights of some, it inhibits the voice of others. Electronic voting has invoked accuracy concerns regarding vote counting, the most notable of which occurred in 2004 when votes in many states were miscounted. The main concerns involving electronic voting revolve around lost votes. To the general public, this means that their voices are not being heard.
"Nothing in our democracy is as important as voting, and having that vote count," said city council member Kathleen MacKenzie who supports the bill.
There are problems with the bill that range from finances to inaccuracy and unsecured counting techniques. The electronic voting machines that the city already has are not yet paid off. Former city council member Jeff Cahoon said that cautioned against the purchase of these machines saying that we would be replacing the paper ballot system with one that is “susceptible to flaw and abuse.”
“There is no computer system that cannot be overcome,” said speaker Timothy Eme, an independent software consultant for the Federal Government. MacKenzie then pointed out that it would be just as easy to interfere with a paper ballot count.
The advantage to the electronic voting system is that it allows the disabled to vote privately. Speaker Faith Gross represents people with disabilities; she says that “they have the right to vote independently and privately.” The electronic voting system allows blind people and those with dexterity disabilities to vote without outside assistance.
“There are four main concerns about the voting system, it must be secure, accurate, recountable, and accessible,” said Bonnie Clark who warned the council about the reliability standards of the machines. The electronic voting machines have a much higher margin of error than paper ballots.
Software creator Jeff Cook showed his skepticism about the system by telling the council that “Germany uses paper ballots.” He said that the money should be spent on enabling the disabled to vote and no more.
The city does not need to buy all 240 electronic voting machines; Denver will not receive or have to pay back the money it does not use. It is possible for Denver to allocate funds only for helping the disabled. Mail ballots are gaining popularity and, as Council President Rosemary E. Rodriguez believes, mail ballots will be preferred in the future.
“The most important thing is that we have accurate, verifiable elections,” said Cook, “in case of a recount, we need paper ballots.”
The controversy over electronic voting is that while it ensures the rights of some, it inhibits the voice of others. Electronic voting has invoked accuracy concerns regarding vote counting, the most notable of which occurred in 2004 when votes in many states were miscounted. The main concerns involving electronic voting revolve around lost votes. To the general public, this means that their voices are not being heard.
"Nothing in our democracy is as important as voting, and having that vote count," said city council member Kathleen MacKenzie who supports the bill.
There are problems with the bill that range from finances to inaccuracy and unsecured counting techniques. The electronic voting machines that the city already has are not yet paid off. Former city council member Jeff Cahoon said that cautioned against the purchase of these machines saying that we would be replacing the paper ballot system with one that is “susceptible to flaw and abuse.”
“There is no computer system that cannot be overcome,” said speaker Timothy Eme, an independent software consultant for the Federal Government. MacKenzie then pointed out that it would be just as easy to interfere with a paper ballot count.
The advantage to the electronic voting system is that it allows the disabled to vote privately. Speaker Faith Gross represents people with disabilities; she says that “they have the right to vote independently and privately.” The electronic voting system allows blind people and those with dexterity disabilities to vote without outside assistance.
“There are four main concerns about the voting system, it must be secure, accurate, recountable, and accessible,” said Bonnie Clark who warned the council about the reliability standards of the machines. The electronic voting machines have a much higher margin of error than paper ballots.
Software creator Jeff Cook showed his skepticism about the system by telling the council that “Germany uses paper ballots.” He said that the money should be spent on enabling the disabled to vote and no more.
The city does not need to buy all 240 electronic voting machines; Denver will not receive or have to pay back the money it does not use. It is possible for Denver to allocate funds only for helping the disabled. Mail ballots are gaining popularity and, as Council President Rosemary E. Rodriguez believes, mail ballots will be preferred in the future.
“The most important thing is that we have accurate, verifiable elections,” said Cook, “in case of a recount, we need paper ballots.”
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