For Immediate Release:
January 17, 2008
Contact:
Mike Webb, 212–998–6746
New Bill Will Improve Security & Reliability of Election Results
Today, Rep. Rush Holt introduced a new bill to provide funding to states and local jurisdictions that strengthen their election protocols before the November 2008 presidential balloting. Lawrence Norden, who co-authored The Machinery of Democracy and chaired the Brennan Center Task Force on Voting System Security, provided counsel for Rep. Holt and his staff on this new legislation and released the following statement:
"After the debacle of the Florida 2000 election and the numerous conspiracy theories surrounding the Ohio 2004 vote, it’s gratifying that Rep. Holt is once again taking steps to ensure better voting system security and reliability. The Brennan Center has explained the security risks with electronic voting machines on several occasions and we will continue to work with states to help them introduce new post-election audit methods and other steps to increase the transparency and accuracy of elections.
“Rep. Holt’s measure is a good step forward because it provides funding for states to institute paper and emergency ballots when needed, and will help election districts who want to conduct hand counts and audits. Giving states the ability to move toward securing elections will increase the public’s confidence in the final results.”
For more information on Rep. Holt’s emergency measure, click here.