Cnn has Clinton at 783, and Obama at 709. Last night, some pundit said that a Clinton lead of 100 would be bad for Obama. It might, in fact, be even closer than you think! Well, he's got it down to 74. The Verified Voting struggle continues. This time, it's a letter from IVI to the gov..

February 5, 2008

The Honorable Chet Culver
Governor of the State of Iowa
State Capitol
Des Moines, IA 50319

Dear Governor Culver,
We write this morning to extend great thanks for your statements regarding optical scan voting systems on yesterday's Iowa Public Radio program “The Exchange.” Asked about the current discussion over new voting equipment for Iowa's counties, you observed that precinct-based optical scan systems are clearly the best form of voter-verifiable paper trail, and you expressed hope that counties move toward such a system by this November.  Thank you for moving the discussion forward.

We would respectfully urge you to agree to full state funding for the purchase of precinct-based optical scan technology.

When you advised Iowa's counties in 2005 to use their federal HAVA dollars to purchase systems with a voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT), it was thought by most stakeholders that the VVPAT printers would be adequate to address the need for verifiable, recountable elections.  We have since learned that this is not the case. Even had all of Iowa's counties followed your good advice, we would still find ourselves in the same position we find ourselves today: looking for funds to establish a statewide system of precinct-based optical scan.

Other states that had the foresight to enact laws requiring voter-verifiable paper trails are moving in the direction of establishing universal optical scan systems, and with good reason.  The paper trail printers do not provide adequate protection to the voters' ballots.

The paper-trail printers have mechanical problems, and have lost votes in a number of recent elections. Most recently, in the November 2007 elections on Cleveland, Ohio's Cuyahoga County, 20 per cent of VVPAT printouts were unreadable. The risk of such a problem in an Iowa election is not acceptable.

In addition to mechanical problems, the printers are subject to manipulation. California Secretary of State Debra Bowen commissioned a top-to-bottom review of voting systems in 2007, and the findings by computer scientists who carried out the review show that the paper trail is not secure.. The VVPAT printers for the Premier touch screens, which are used in 71 counties, can be compromised with ease in less than a minute, and the ballots printed on them destroyed. Computer scientists commissioned by Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner found that printer jams can be created simply by pressing against the transparent casing of the printer, causing all records printed afterward to be unreadable.

For these reasons, states that already have paper trails are in the process of changing to precinct-based optical scan. California's Secretary of State Bowen has severely restricted the use of touch screens in today's primary, and has expressed a strong preference for optical scan. In January, Colorado's Governor Ritter and a bipartisan team of lawmakers announced a plan to advance legislation requiring precinct-based optical scan in the state this November. And following the printer problems last November, Ohio Secretary of State Brunner ordered Cuyahoga County to scrap its touch screens and adopt optical scan.

Federal legislation also provides incentive not to spend state funds on printers. Legislation now moving forward in Congress would offer reimbursement for the purchase of new optical scan equipment, but not for new VVPAT printers. If the state spends money on VVPAT, it will likely not see the money again. Incentives aside, there is also a strong possibility that Congress will ban the printers in the next several years.

In closing, we recognize that Iowa counties have historically been financially responsible for the conduct of elections. But we find ourselves with an extraordinary situation, in which a hastily created federal mandate has created with voting equipment that is simply not acceptable. The state could provide full funding for the purchase of optical scan systems, while making clear that this funding is a recognition of the unique present circumstances, rather than a relieving of long-standing county responsibilities.

Your view that precinct-based optical scan is the best voting system for Iowa is shared by the Secretary of State, and by leading lawmakers in both major parties. Full state funding is feasible, if the cost is borne over the next three years.  This moment of consensus offers Iowa a historic opportunity to create a uniform, first-rate voting system. It would be a tragedy for Iowa's voters if this opportunity slips away.  We ask for you to make a magnanimous exception to historical precedent, and approve funding for a voting system we all believe would best serve the voters of Iowa.

Sincerely,
Sean Flaherty
Carole Simmons
Co-Chairs, Iowans for Voting Integrity
http://www.IowansForVotingIntegrity.org