Hello All:
I had an opportunity to see the new voting machines first hand when they were demonstrated for the Sorors of the Philadelphia Alumni Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. The touch screen is easy to use, but I had some concerns about the paper ballot - in terms of whether or not it truly provided privacy and accuracy. I was assured by the trainers that everything was totally secured. It is totally high tech. They are trying to avert a repeat of what happened in 2016 when Russians hacked polling machines and changed votes to give T-rump a bogus victory.
I teasingly asked if we would still be receiving our "I VOTED" STICKERS, and was assured they would definitely be handed out as usual.
Philly Gets First New Voting Machines in Nearly 20 Years, Will Be Used in November
The machines have large touchscreens that are accompanied by a paper ballot inserted into the machine by a voter. The new technology was chosen to increase security and maintain a familiar look for city voters.
By Brian X. McCrone and Lauren Mayk
Published Apr 30, 2019 at 3:56 PM | Updated at 7:05 PM EDT on Apr 30, 2019
The
first new voting machines in Philadelphia since 2002 will begin
counting votes in the November election. City Commissioner Lisa Deeley
gave NBC10 an exclusive first look at the features of the new machines.
(Originally Published Tuesday, April 30, 2019)
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The first voting machines arrived on Monday. Eventually, 3,800 new machines will replace the old ones, starting with the November election.
They have large, computerized touchscreens on which voters tap their choices, and also include a paper slip that records each ballot cast.
The Commissioners' office is forging ahead with the machines despite criticism and concerns over transparency and security.
Philadelphia's
first new voting machines in nearly 20 years arrived Monday following
months of debate over their security, accessibility and the process by
which they were chosen.
New
machines were required of all counties by Pennsylvania ahead of the
presidential election next year. Russian meddling in the 2016 election
and ongoing concerns over voters' rights put a keen focus on the
selection process by the three City Commissioners in recent months.
Eighty-three
of an eventual 3,800 new machines, manufactured by Nebraska-based
ES&S, are being tested at the City Commissioners' offices, with some
of them expected to be shown to the public by the summer.
All
told, replacing the old voting machines could cost up to $60 million.
The new versions are the first for Philadelphia since 2002. Prior to
that, the city used the same machines for more than 30 years.
City
Commissioner Lisa Deeley, who gave NBC10 a first look Tuesday at how
the new large, touchscreen machines work, said the city's 8,500 poll
workers will be trained in the summer. The machines will be used for the
first time in the November general municipal election.
Deeley's
demonstration was the first for the ES&S ExpressVote XL machines
since the City Commissioners, who oversee elections, chose the company
in February following a bid process.
Critics
have accused the Commissioners of lacking transparency and claim the
touchscreen, paper-audit machines are not as secure from hacking as
another certified option that requires voters to fill out a handwritten
ballot, which is then scanned into a voting machine.
"I
believe this is the best system for Philadelphia voters," Deeley said
as she cast some demo ballots through one of the machines. "These ensure
everyone can vote on the same system. And it provides a full-face
ballot screen, which Philadelphians are accustomed to."
Deeley,
who is running for her elected Commissioner position against 12 other
Democrats in the May 21 primary, said both accessibility and familiarity
were key components in choosing ES&S's touchscreen machine.
In
addition to a computerized touchscreen, the machine requires each voter
to insert a paper slip into the right side before casting their vote.
Once
a voter chooses his or her candidates and ballot question answers on
the touchscreen, they are then prompted to cast their ballot. The
machine then prints out their selections on the paper slip for the voter
to make a final check.
If
the paper ballot is correct, the voter officially casts the ballot. The
machine registers the voters electronic responses and deposits the
paper ballot into a locked container inside.
Those paper ballots can be audited in ballot challenges.
The
timing of the selection of the ES&S machines has raised concerns
among some members of the public. Deeley and another City Commissioner
running for re-election, Republican Al Schmidt, chose the company —
which also has its voting machines in use in Delaware and New Jersey —
at a Feb. 20 meeting. The next day, they recused themselves from further
deliberation over the procurement of the machines.
State
law requires elected Commissioners who are campaigning for office from
being involved in decision-making related to an upcoming election.
The
third commissioner, Anthony Clark, is not running for re-election.
Clark is presiding over ongoing Commissioner meetings along with two
Philadelphia judges who were chosen by the city's president judge as
replacements for Deeley and Schmidt.
Despite
ongoing protests from some members of the public, as well as City
Controller Rebecca Rhynhart, Deeley said the new ES&S ExpressVote XL
machines will be utilized in the November elections — and future
elections.
The old machines will be decommissioned following the May primary.
On
April 1, Rhynhart subpoenaed records from the Commissioners' offices
related to the selection process. As of Tuesday, the subpoena remains in
contention between attorneys with the city Law Department and the
Controller's office, according to an official familiar with the
litigation.
Rhynhart indicated in
a statement she will continue to investigate the process that led to
the selection of ES&S ExpressVote XL machines.
"The
delivery of these 83 machines before a contract has been signed or
funding approved by City Council shows just how broken this process has
been, every step of the way," she said. "I’m deeply concerned about the
legality of this process, and as City Controller, I will not release $1
of payment while these questions go unanswered."
According to the trainers, they have been providing training in churches, community centers, schools and other areas. "The idea is to make sure that all Philadelphians understand that we are doing our best to ensure their votes are counted."
If you need training or information on these machines, polling places, or anything else, be sure to contact the Philadelphia Board of Elections 215.686.3460 or The Committee of Seventy 215.557.3600.
There should be no reason for you not turning out in record numbers to vote on November 5. It's your right and responsibility.
NOW THAT YOU KNOW
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
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