|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
State
Rep. James E. Casorio, Jr. |
|
Resolution asks Congress to allow Pa. to use lever voting machines
HARRISBURG, April 13 – State Rep. James E. Casorio Jr., D-Westmoreland, recently reintroduced legislation that would petition the U.S. Congress to allow counties in Pennsylvania to return to the use of lever voting machines in elections.
As part of the federal Help America Vote Act of 2000, which instituted new national standards for elections and voting, all counties in Pennsylvania have been required to use electronic voting machines since 2006.
But, Casorio said, while the 2008 presidential election did not feature the controversy of the 2004 election or 2000 election, which led Congress to pass HAVA in the first place, there are still plenty of problems with voting machines in Pennsylvania.
"Both voters and poll workers continue to express frustration with the mandated electronic machines," Casorio said. "In many cases, these machines are harder for voters to use and more difficult for poll workers to maintain. The electronic machines make many voters less secure in the belief that their vote is being counted, and counted accurately."
Casorio also pointed out that the electronic voting machine mandate by HAVA forced many counties in Pennsylvania to spend thousands of extra dollars to purchase and prepare new electronic machines while functioning, accurate lever machines were still available.
"In counties where election budgets are tight, where there is a shortage of poll workers, and where the majority of poll workers and voters are more comfortable with older style lever machines, I believe counties should be permitted to use these machines," he said.
Casorio said that at least one study, the Caltech/MIT Voting Technology Project, has concluded that lever machines are more accurate than electronic machines.
"While the Help America Vote Act ensures a uniform method of voting for everyone, the real goal should be an accurate vote for everyone," Casorio said. "Until the problems that remain with electronic voting machines can be worked out, lever machines – which have proven to be accurate and which many voters are more comfortable with than electronic machines – should be available to voters who wish to cast their vote in this way."
Casorio's resolution (H.R. 176) has been referred to the House State Government Committee for consideration.