[ACLU-NM] ACLU-NM Urges Voter Caution When Using Touch-Screen Machines

[Kimberly Lavender]

~ ACLU-NM NEWS RELEASE ~


For Immediate Release

October 25th, 2004



Contact:        Peter Simonson, ACLU-NM Executive Director, 266-4622



ACLU Urges Voter Caution
When Using Touch-Screen Machines


Albuquerque--The ACLU of New Mexico responded to emerging reports of
problems with touch-screen voting machines by urging voters to “guard their
vote” when casting their ballots electronically.  Last Friday, the
Albuquerque Journal reported several instances in which voters in Bernalillo
and Sandoval Counties voted for one candidate, only to see the touch-screen
machines register votes for opposing candidates.  The ACLU-NM said it was
critical that voters take the time to carefully check touch-screen read-outs
to make sure that they accurately reflect their candidate choices.



“Unfortunately, it appears that voters are going to have to take more
responsibility in the electoral process than just getting themselves to the
polls,” said ACLU-NM Executive Director Peter Simonson.  “They’re also going
to have to carefully monitor how touch-screen machines register their vote
and call upon poll workers to intervene if the machines inaccurately record
their choices.  The process shouldn’t be this complicated, but glitches in
our new voting technology make it so.”



According to the Albuquerque Journal, Bernalillo County Clerk Mary Herrera
attributed problems in Bernalillo County to voters rather than to the voting
machines, pointing out that voters might have inappropriately “leaned” on
touch-screens, causing them to hit the wrong button.



Simonson said he found Herrera’s response “unacceptable.”



“Don’t blame the victims for this problem.  If voters are unintentionally
causing the errors, change the process so that voters don’t keep falling
into the same trap.  The point is to do whatever is necessary to facilitate
as much accurate voting as possible.”



“People shouldn’t be deterred from going to the polls because of these
glitches,” Simonson cautioned.  “In each instance, with a little
perseverance, voters who had problems in Bernalillo and Sandoval counties
were able to get their proper ballots cast.  This is a momentous election.
No one should allow his or her vote to go uncounted.



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