However, a recent study commissioned by the Ohio secretary of state’s office found security flaws in a large number of election machines, including three used by counties here in Montana. But none of those machines is used to actually record an individual’s vote. None of those machines is the only means of knowing what the vote count is. And none of those machines has ever failed a test for us.
Montana does not use machines to record votes. We use paper ballots n the gold standard of ballot security. Machines are only used to count those ballots.
The machines mentioned in the Ohio study used in Montana are the Automark ballot marking machine and the M-100 and M-650 ballot counting machines. The League of Women Voters has called for those machines to be decertified by the secretary of state’s office n in other words, those machines would no longer be authorized for use in elections here. However, because of the measures in place in Montana elections, we are not convinced this is necessary.
Each machine first meets or exceeds federal standards before ever being purchased. Shortly before the election, a number of each machine to be used, chosen at random, is tested with sample ballots. This process is open to observation. Any attempt to tamper with the machines would be detected before the count.
On Election Day, election judges again test a random sample of every machine to be used, employing a stack of sample ballots. Again, the process is open to public view. Once again, any tampering with a vote counting machine would be detected.
In the event of a recount, state law requires that results be tabulated by hand. So any attempt to tamper with the results of an election would be caught by a hand count.
Machine counts have never n not once n been shown to be inaccurate by a hand count. Even the League of Women Voters admits that there is no proof or even strong suspicion of machine counts tampering.
The Ohio study found n and the League of Women Voters is concerned about n ways in which these machines could be compromised if someone gained physical access to the machine. But Montana’s county election officials take steps to prevent that. At some point, we have to rely on people. Trained, competent people take care of and supervise the machines and keep them secure.
Montana’s election systems work. They deliver clean, accurate, fair results in every election, every year. That’s because the local election officials in all of our counties are dedicated, skilled people who are committed to the democratic process. It’s also because the Legislature requires paper ballots.
The League of Women Voters is to be commended for their dedication to clean, accurate elections. But our election systems have been tested by years of use. Tampering with them on the eve of a presidential election isn’t a good solution.
Brad Johnson is Montana’s secretary of state.
|
 |
 |
Add your comment now! Write your comment in the form below.
(Email address is for verification only. If you'd like to email a story, look for the link above)