Iowa and the Death of Democracy
Culver 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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| Information is power. Learn the facts. Myth Breakers… – Corrects HAVA misconceptions – Describes HAVA-compliant alternatives to DREs – Gives general pricing information – Speaks about myth vs. misinformation The second edition includes… |
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| Myth Breakers is a tool for citizen activists. Myth Breakers will enable you to speak with confidence about the issues. Then … Spread the Truth! Deliver “Myth Breakers: Facts about Electronic Elections” to your local election officials and legislators. Give them the information they need to make wise decisions. Participants have confirmed that the first edition (“Myth Breakers for |
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Blog For Iowa 
Myth Breakers was made available due to the hard work of one Alta Price last year…At her own expense she compiled and made available the booklet that gave needed information to every county auditor or person in charge of elections in our IOWA counties…KUDOS to Alta!!!
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And my sister, on her one day off in three weeks, drove to 4 counties in western Iowa and personally delivered Myth Breakers to 4 county auditors.
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