Seminole County Democrats hope an upcoming elections forum, to be held at the Seminole County Supervisor of Elections office, will lead to greater reliability, accountability, and transparency in the elections process.
The Seminole County Democratic Party will fight for the implementation of voter-verifiable paper receipts on new touch-screen voting machines to be introduced in the county this year.
Democratic Party officials will be participating in the June 21st forum, which is intended to bring together members of Seminole County’s political and community organizations to discuss current and upcoming issues regarding the electoral process.
Secretary of State Glenda Hood has mandated the introduction of touch-screen voting beginning this July 1. There is no provision, however, for printers to be added to the machines, even as a local option. The net effect is to forbid a paper trail being established for votes cast on a touch-screen machine.
“I question why the current Republican administration in Tallahassee does not want to permit voter-verifiable receipts for touch-screen machines. There is clearly a need for paper trails, and it is difficult to imagine anyone, of any political party or persuasion, opposing it,” said Carol Cox, chair of the Seminole County Democratic Party.
Seminole County Supervisor of Elections Michael Ertel said in a phone conversation with Cox that printers will not be added to the touch-screen machines in time for the November 2006 general election.
The Seminole County Democratic Party is unclear why there would be a delay when compatible printers do exist and just need to be certified by the Secretary of State.
As such, the Seminole County Democratic Party will request that the Secretary of State certify, as soon as possible, printers that can be attached to the touch-screen voting machines.
It will also request the Seminole County Supervisor of Elections to connect these printers to each touch-screen machine in the county in time for the November 2006 general election.
“We are certain that everyone will recognize the importance of having paper trails on these machines to ensure trust and transparency. We look forward to discussing this at Tuesday’s forum,” said Cox.
The public is invited to attend the forum, beginning at 7 pm at the Seminole County Supervisor of Elections Office, 1500 E. Airport Boulevard in Sanford.
