Dear Editor:
It is all too common to read that the reason for paper voting ballots [in Florida] is that they are cheaper than the voting machine. Without adverse comment, the media accepts this reasoning.
We have only to look back 50+ years to the era of the notorious Frank Hague, 32-year mayor of Jersey City. When his opponents were successful in installing voting machines over his objections [the state government supported the voting machines installation], this crooked politician decided he would no longer run. However, before he bailed out he got a little payback by jailing some of his opposition on trumped-up charges, this was easy–he controlled the police!
In one of the richest locales in the nation–Palm Beach County–it is obvious that there is money for a better, less manipulable way to vote than the paper process [punchcard or otherwise]; Jersey City did it 50 years ago!
However, once a more secure process is in place, the cheating is reduced significantly. Electronic votes for two persons where only one is permitted by law are automatically stopped. No “chads” are involved and the tabulations are real-time and accurate. Of course, if a citizen enters a vote for the wrong person or votes “yes” for a referendum item when he/she means “no,” upon pressing the “Cast Vote” part of the screen the vote is chiseled in bytes and ensconced in memory. Like mis-reading a red light for a green light and proceeding through an intersection, the action is irrevocable and potentially disastrous!
What is of greater concern is that the registration for the right to vote is very loose and, by its nature, almost uncontrollable. Better controls can be installed; for example, using a social security number [as is required in South Carolina and some other states]. After South Carolina instituted this requirement, thousands of voters dropped from the roles [dead persons, felons, non-citizens, etc.]
If we don’t want to give out our social security card number, then: 1. We can’t file a tax return and we will suffer the consequent penalties; 2. we can’t get a credit card; 3. we can’t enter college; 4. we can’t get college financial aid through the state and most important, 5. we can’t get a job!
Frank X. Landrigan