http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060403/NEWS01/604030313/1006

April 3, 2006

Residents wary of new voting styles

Electronic machines raise security concern

Kathianne Boniello

Poughkeepsie Journal

FISHKILL — Given a choice about the future of voting machines in New York state, it seems many voters in Dutchess County favor the old-fashioned system.

"Do we have to purchase an electronic machine?" asked Rhinebeck resident Andi Novick during a forum on the issue. "Why can't we count our ballots by hand?"

Novick's call for paper ballots in New York earned applause from a good portion of the more than 100 people in the audience, but a thumbs down from state Assemblyman Joel Miller, R-Poughkeepsie.

"I do not believe that what we're purchasing in New York state is a bunch of wooden boxes" to put paper ballots in, said Miller, who hosted the forum last week with Fishkill Supervisor Joan Pagones.

Machines were AWOL

Originally the forum at Fishkill town hall was to give the public a peek at voting machines being considered by the state. That changed when the machines didn't show up.

Instead, Bob Brehm of the state Board of Elections, Dutchess elections commissioners, Pagones and Miller spoke on the issue and took questions from the public.

New York was scheduled to have new voting machines for November's elections, to comply with the federal Help America Vote Act. State officials said lever-style machines will be used again this year.

"We don't believe we're late or slow," Brehm said. "We believe we're the first to do it right."

The two major styles of voting machines being considered are one that uses an optical scanner to read paper ballots and another that uses an electronic touch screen.

Many of those who spoke questioned the security of the electronic touch-screen machine and voiced concern they could be hacked into.

The state will require the machine to have security provisions, Brehm said.

"These machines will have no connectivity," he said. "They will not be connected to a modem in any way, no wi-fi, not connected to the Internet in any way. Any points of entry will need to be sealed, locked and tamper evident.

"It's a strong requirement and New York is one of the first that has put that forward," he said.

When several other residents took the microphone, questioning the security of electronic machines and calling for paper ballots, Miller said security would be a priority.

"Every effort is going to be made to make sure our elections are as clean and an honest as possible," Miller said. "I just don't want people to feel that anyone is out to get you. Be cynical, but do not think that there is no chance that this can be done right."

Kathianne Boniello can be reached at kboniello@poughkeepsiejournal.com