Legislation would create written safeguard for touch-screen votes

By FROM STAFF REPORTS

SACRAMENTO An East Bay state senator on Thursday introduced a bill aimed at guaranteeing the integrity of elections as California's voting systems move into the computer age.

The bill by Sen. Don Perata, the Oakland Democrat who serves as chairman of the Senate Elections Committee, would require that voters be provided a paper receipt verifying how their votes were recorded by the electronic voting system.

The measure also would require a printed copy of all votes cast so the list could be used in a manual recount.

Critics of new electronic touch-screen voting machines to be used March 2 in 14 counties including Alameda say the devices aren't secure and could be manipulated to disrupt election results.

State and county officials say they are taking the necessary short-term precautions to thwart improprieties while working on longer-term solutions to concerns.

Even so, the California Voter Foundation on Thursday urged voters in counties where electronic touch-screen voting machines are being used to instead vote by paper absentee ballots.