Eich on Voting Systems

Exarchos & Dershem made a bad business decision by insisting on the $1,166,590 purchase of:
• untested,
• widely criticized,
• touch screen voting machines
• that provide no paper trail
• and requires more equipment
• – a system rejected by at least 28 states.

Even worse, these commissioners rejected a system:
• cost 20% less ($233,000),
• was proven, and
• provided a permanent paper record.

• I believe it is fundamental to democracy that voting systems be Secure, Accurate, Recountable, and fully Accessible by all voters.

• Currently in Pennsylvania, touch screen voting systems do not produce a voter verifiable permanent paper record that can be used in audits and recounts.  That's unacceptable.

• A voting system task force needs to be appointed to analyze the alternatives available and make recommendations to the next BOC on which voting system should be used in Centre County.

• I would call for the creation of such a task force in January, with recommendations due in May, and implementation prior to the 2008 General Election.

 • The meetings would be public.
 
 • The task force would include people knowledgeable about voting system issues and conducting elections.