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SEND A LETTER TO YOUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS - they can approve/disapprove voting systems chose by the Board of Elections. Both parties must agree on the system chosen.
Some handouts you can include if you use snail mail:
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Pictorial cost comparison:
DRE system vs. optical scan + ballot-marking device. One page | |
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Taxpayer alert: DREs cost more to own and to operate
2 page handout by Voters Unite comparing purchase and operating cost of optical scan and DRE machines, includes info about why DREs cost more. -- Costcomparisons
Additional: actual study of 4 NC Counties -- NC Costs | |
Fact: Optical Scan /Ballot Marking Systems will not cost your county anything, state grants will completely pay for them. Urge your County Commissioners not to waste taxpayer money on Direct Record Electronic Voting Systems.
Show your County Commissioners how much taxpayer money would be wasted if they let Election Directors talk them into paying for the Electronic voting machines, (DREs) Download excell spreadsheet to find out the amount (right click and open in new window:  )
Look up your County Commissioners -- http://www.ncacc.org/countyinfo.htm
Sample letter:
Dear Commissioner ____________ ;
I am a concerned citizen of ____________ County
I am writing to you as a taxpayer and a voter --
A new law was passed by the State Legislature that will affect your county Board of Elections, requiring that all voting machines produce a voter verified paper ballot. Counties may choose from optical scan systems with ballot marking devices, Direct Record Electronic systems (DREs) or hand counted paper ballots. [1]
The decisions you make now will affect our county and state for the next 10-15 years.
Your County Board of Elections may be coming to you asking for a large appropriation, saying that more money is needed to meet requirements of the new state law.
This is completely wrong.
The law provides for counties to apply for state grants for up to $12,000. per precinct plus $1.00 per registered voter up to $100K limit (for software). This money is federal money from the Help America Vote Act.
The state grant would completely pay for the purchase of optical scan units and "ballot marking" devices for the disabled for a little less than $12,000 per precinct. These machines will meet all federal and state requirements. 48 North Carolina counties already use optical scan systems quite successfully.
Some County Election Directors want to buy the flashier but more expensive Touchscreen or other Direct Record machines, but these machines are not required by State and Federal law.
Besides costing 2 to 3 times as much as Optical Scanners, DRE machines are not fully HAVA compliant. Additionally, any DREs purchased this year would have to be replaced or upgraded again in 2007 at the counties expense. [2]
The choice of voting systems also has long term fiscal impact -- DRE machines cost at least 50-60% more to operate annually than do optical scan/paper ballot systems. [3]
The financial analysis from state government - using data supplied by the State Board of Elections and reviewed by citizens and other election officials - indicates that County taxpayers will not have to spend a dime to meet federal and state requirements (NC Election Directors contributed to this analysis). [4]
Computer scientists are recommending the optical scan solution as the best choice, based on issues of accessibility, reliability, cost efectiveness, and auditability. [5]
We urge you not to allocate any taxpayer funds towards the purchase of the more expensive, less reliable, and non-compliant Direct Record Electronic voting systems.
Please advise as to whether we have your support in this matter.
Respectully;
_____________________
1] Public Confidence in Elections Act -- http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2005/Bills/Senate/HTML/S223v5.html
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