Protection for Md. Voters

Thursday, July 1, 2004; Page A22

The June 18 editorial "At-Risk Voters" asserted that because Maryland is not adopting a paper trail for electronic balloting it is unconcerned about voter confidence. Let me add some perspective:

• Electronic touch-screen machines allow accessibility to 56 million Americans who could not vote unassisted with previous types of machines.

• Studies conclude our touch-screen machines yield a voter error rate of a fraction of 1 percent, compared with 2 to 3 percent for optical-scan systems and 5 to 10 percent for punch-card systems.

• We manage the risk of machine failures through a program of preparation, testing, documentation, training and logistical support. Any credible report of touch-screen anomalies has involved machines outside of Maryland.

• The voting system we created protects against fraud with features such as multiple electronic storage mechanisms, omnipresent observers at the polls and correlation of number of votes to number of voters throughout Election Day.

• Maryland recognizes no standard for implementing a paper trail of votes cast and should not consider incorporating supplemental system components until an acceptable federal standard exists to address them.

Under the new voting system, Marylanders can be confident that a vote cast will be a vote counted.

GILLES W. BURGER

Chairman

Maryland State Board of Elections

Annapolis