Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Letters to the Editor, 9/21/05

Paper ballots
We are a group of Unitarian Universalists in the Pittsburgh area. One of the principles of our faith is using the democratic process both in our congregations and in society at large.

The foundation of our country's democracy is an electoral system: Every citizen must have confidence that his or her vote has been counted accurately. Without free and fair elections, democracy crumbles.

In the 2004 elections, problems with electronic voting machines were widely reported. As many as one-third of all voters cast votes on electronic voting equipment that could not be independently audited. Mercer, Greene and Beaver counties had high under-voting rates on machines that were subsequently decertified. More than 10,000 votes cast went uncounted statewide. In other areas of the country, thousands more votes were recorded than people signed in to vote. These disturbing facts demonstrate the need for a voter-verified paper ballot for all electronic votes cast.

The Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act (H.R. 550) requires that all voting systems produce a voter-verified paper record of each vote cast and also requires the disclosure of vote-counting software code, bans the use of wireless devices and mandates a percentage of random audits in each state. Reps. Mike Doyle and John Murtha are co-sponsors of this crucial legislation.

So far, however, Reps. Melissa Hart and Tim Murphy do not support H.R. 550. We urge you to write to them and ask for their support for this bipartisan bill that we think is essential to the well-being of our democracy.

KAREN ZOLLER
Mt. Lebanon
Editor's note: This letter was signed by 24 others.