Louisiana’s Republican State Central Committee (RSCC), the governing physique of the Louisiana Republican Get together, not too long ago took a big step towards a paper poll voting system and away from voting machines. One of many voting machine specialists, Alex J. Halderman, beforehand testified earlier than the Louisiana Voting System Fee on the gaping vulnerabilities of digital voting.
A earlier decision by Randolph Bazet was unsuccessful, however on Saturday Christy Haik’s Decision recommending an auditable paper back-up system handed by a vote of 79-77 with quite a few co-sponsors. An irony value noting is that, on the request of RSCC members who oppose a paper poll voting system for Louisiana, the RSCC vote on the Haik Decision was performed utilizing paper ballots.
It’s broadly believed that Governor Landry plans to speculate a minimal of $100 million of taxpayer cash in new voting machines. Landry has vital affect over RSCC coverage suggestions on this regard. It will reportedly take a fraction of those funds to coach, equip, and rent bi-partisan ballot commissioners to conduct elections utilizing a safe paper system.
Saturday’s vote is a powerful indication that the momentum is shifting as Republican leaders throughout the State turn out to be extra conscious of the intense vulnerabilities of machine primarily based voting. There will be little doubt that President Trump’s constant public name for a far inexpensive, counterfeit proof, safe, serialized paper-only system has influenced this shift in opinion and can proceed to take action.
Additionally at work are a number of citizen advocacy teams together with however not restricted to We The Individuals, Louisiana Republican Meeting, and Louisiana Citizen Advocacy Group. These teams are making their voices heard concerning the very important significance of absolutely securing our election system via a safe paper poll system.
Germany, a Nation of 80 million, Norway, Netherlands, France, and quite a few different International locations already defend the integrity and belief of their elections with safe, publicly observable hand-counting of paper ballots. Louisiana has a inhabitants of 4.5 million. The suggestion that such a system can’t be successfully applied in Louisiana defies each precedent and logic. This isn’t a problem of potential in our State, however one in all will: will to save lots of valuable taxpayer assets whereas shoring up our election vulnerabilities.
The pendulum is swinging again in Louisiana as the load of opinion strikes towards an election system wherein we are able to all trust: safe, serialized, hand-marked, publicly counted paper ballots. This is a matter now we have the facility and skill to get proper, and one we can’t afford to get improper. The passage of the Haik Decision is a significant step ahead.
J. Christopher Alexander
Louisiana Citizen Advocacy Group
www.lacag.org
