Following are three statements about electronic voting. Please tell me which statement comes closest to your point of view A, B, or C?
Statement A: Electronic voting is efficient and trustworthy. It will make voting easier, count ballots quicker, and avoid the problems associated with counting paper ballots.
Statement B: Electronic voting is okay only if there is a paper trail, much like ATM machines which provide you with a printed receipt. That way voters can verify that their vote is recorded correctly and there is no risk of the electronic records being lost, hacked or manipulated with no verifiable record.
Statement C: There should be no electronic voting. We should only use voting machines which use paper ballots or old, reliable lever machines.
1. A 2. B 3. C 4. None/other 5. Not sure
The PA residents who took the poll are on the verge of having HAVA-required electronic machines-- ES&S, Diebold-- foisted upon them. Most of the people don't know much about what's going on. But in response to this poll, 12% were okay with electronic voting and an rock and rolling out of the ball part 85% want paper ballots-- 73% accepting electronic with verifiable paper ballots as the ballot of record. 12% would accept the old-fashioned non-electronic paper ballot or lever machines.
Interestingly, Born-agains and people who go to religious services once or twice a month or more have some of the lowest numbers in support of paper ballots. Then again, they don't approve of condoms either (that's not on this poll.)
I've posted the demographic data for the five questions we asked on this issue here. The leader of the local voting integrity group told me today that she showed the poll results to the district's US congressman and it was part of what she used to persuade him to submit legislation to congress allowing municipalities to put off buying new voting technology. It felt good to hear that. I think the information could help verifiable vote advocates nationwide. The numbers are so strong.
Here are the other four questions.
19. Again, which of the following statements about voting comes closer to your point of view A or B?
Statement A: Voting machines and other voting equipment or technology should be contracted out to and owned and operated by private businesses and corporations. It would save the taxpayers money and would be more efficient.
Statement B: Voting machines and other voting equipment or technology should be owned and operated by state and municiple entities. This would ensure that people from both or all political parties are involved in the process, cutting down on the possibility of voting fraud.
1. A 2. B 3. None/other 4. Not sure
20. Do you think that the job of maintaining voter records and determining who is eligible to vote should be outsourced to private companies and corporations or should it be the function of state, county and municipal organizations to maintain voter records and determine who is eligible to vote?
1. Outsourced to private companies/corporations
2. Function of state, county, and municiple organizations
3. Neither/other
4. Not sure
80% of panelists chose option 2. Unlike MANY issues, this is one that men and women agree on almost exactly, within two tenths of a percentage point.
21. Which of the following positions on election financing comes closer to your own position A or B?
Position A: Candidates should be allowed to raise as much money as they want from individuals, industry, and corporations.
