Iowa and the Death of DemocracyCulver Asks Iowa Legislature to Pass Elections Bill
(DES MOINES, IA) Secretary of State Chet Culver [Monday] released data submitted by county officials showing that nearly half of Iowa’s counties will purchase touch-screen voting machines as part of statewide efforts to upgrade voting machines and make election system improvements as required by the Help America Vote Act (HAVA).
The data shows that 47 counties are likely to purchase [the extremely unreliable, highly-riggable] touch-screen voting machines, known as Direct Recording Devices (DREs). That widespread use, Culver said, reinforces the position he and Governor Vilsack have taken as they’ve urged legislators to pass an elections bill that includes a requirement for a voter verified paper trail with touch-screen voting machines.
“The timing is critical,” Culver said. “Legislators have put together an elections bill that has many outstanding provisions, but legislators have not yet voted on the bill. I urge them to do so. County supervisors and election officials are dealing with election reforms right now and are ready to purchase new voting machines, which means proposed changes in state law will do the most good if they can take effect this year.”
Earlier in the session the Iowa Senate voted 48-0 in favor of a voter verified paper trail. Some lawmakers raised concerns about the technology, which has improved to take effect as Iowa and other states prepare for new voting systems that must be in place by 2006. Culver said he has been assured by voting equipment manufacturers that the technology is available to meet a paper trail requirement.
For added reassurance, Senator Jeff Danielson of Cedar Falls proposed an amendment to the bill that would put the onus on equipment vendors and the Secretary of State’s office to complete certification for touch-screen voting machines with paper trail features by no later than August 15, 2005.
“If the requirement doesn’t become law now, it may be another decade or more before counties purchase new voting equipment. Furthermore, HAVA provides our counties with a one-time use of federal dollars to support a large share of the equipment costs,” Culver said.
Supporters of the elections bill include the League of Women Voters of Iowa, AARP, Democracy for Iowa, I-Vote, and other citizen groups. In addition to the paper trail issue, the elections bill includes other provisions that Culver said will give local officials more flexibility and a greater ability to reduce local election costs.
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