7/27/2009
New Yorkers for Verified Voting has submitted comments to
the State Board of Elections on the proposed New York State election auditing
regulations.
NYVV's comments can be downloaded here http://www.nyvv.org/newdoc/2009/NYVV-AuditCmts-072509.pdf
.
One of the key benefits of New York State's new voting
systems is the ability to audit paper ballots as an independent verification of
machine reported results. NYVV has long advocated for risk-limiting audits
designed to use resources efficiently and effectively to confirm - and, if
necessary, to correct - election outcomes.
But the proposed New York State auditing regulations need
several improvements in order to move towards this important goal. NYVV's
commentary recommends that the proposed regulations be revised to provide that:
·
There be a full manual count in contests with margins
of decision under 1%.
·
Rules for expanding audits be applied contest-wide to
all affected counties.
·
The State Board of Elections, as well as county boards
and courts, retain the authority to order additional manual counts when
warranted.
·
Expanded audits be allowed to sample by
machine/Election District pairings rather than individual machines.
·
Candidates be allowed to select specific Election
Districts to be audited.
·
Public observation of audits is guaranteed by allowing
non-partisan observers to be present at audits and by providing webcasts of the
proceedings.
Wanda Warren Berry
Director, New Yorkers for Verified Voting