Sue Bernhard

Statement in support of Resolution 131 for Paper Ballot-Optical Scanner Systems

January 29, 2007

Thank you for holding a hearing to listen to the public’s concerns.

I oppose the use of electronic voting machines, DREs, because of security concerns.

Recently the Supervisor of Elections in Riverside County, California, issue a challenge to local activists, saying that he would match money with them, 1000 to 1, that they could not hack the county’s Sequoia DREs.

Local activists immediately accepted the challenge and posted $1000 as their side of the bet.

The Bradblog web site has a summary of recent developments in Riverside County, with links to other documents and coverage of the challenge.

http://www.bradblog.com/?p=4043

The county has backed off from their challenge, causing everyone to say that they knew all along their equipment was easily hackable, and that insiders are the greatest threat to all computer systems including voting systems.

We know that voting systems may be certified at the federal and state level, but saying that an examination on one day will prevent problems the next day, is like saying if you check your tire pressure today, you won’t get a flat tire tomorrow.

Computer systems are inherently insecure, and our city must minimize our reliance on computer technology in our elections.

I urge you to pass Resolution 131 out of committee so that the entire city council can vote on it. It is important for our city council to express its understanding of the dangers of electronic voting, and to urge our Board of Elections to choose a paper ballot-optical scanner system for New York City when we have to replace our current mechanical equipment.

Thank you.