FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 6, 2007

CONTACT:
Meredith Curtis, Public Outreach Director
410-889-8555
Cindy Boersma, Legislative Director
443-370-8096

The ACLU of Maryland calls Senate passage today of SB 392 -- “paper trail” legislation -- a significant step forward on the road to achieving a voter-verified election system. However, while the Senate bill sets out a clear mandate for a change in Maryland’s voting system to provide voter-verified paper records, SB 392 does not provide sufficient protections to voters with disabilities who are legitimately concerned that they will lose important gains in accessibility with a voting system change.

ACLU-MD worked with disability advocates and voters with disabilities to craft the strong accessibility protections included in the unanimously-passed House version of the bill, HB 18. We will now work to ensure that the final language expands on the protections for voters with disabilities.

The Senate version of the bill also lacks important audit provisions which are included in HB 18.

“Full access for voters with disabilities, verifiability, and auditability are the ACLU’s guiding principles as we work for passage of a strong paper trail bill this session,” said Cynthia Boersma, Legislative Director for the ACLU of Maryland. “We have applauded the House for its leadership on this issue. Today, we thank the Senate for its persistence in moving the issue forward. Marylanders deserve nothing less than a truly voter-verified and fully accessible election system.”

As amended, SB 392 requires voter-verifiable paper records. Under SB 392, such a record includes a paper record prepared for optical scan machines, ballot-marking devices and mailed ballots. It expects the State Board of Elections to promulgate regulations regarding audits, security and accessibility for voters with disabilities. The bill would require the standards to be met starting with the 2010 election, but the bill is contingent on funding prior to FY09, it waters down protections for voters with disabilities, and it does not address criteria for auditing elections.

The ACLU has been working for several years to pass a voter-verified paper trail for elections, which will help ensure much-needed transparency and accountability in our voting system, as well as help restore voter confidence. We are advocating as a member of the Election Integrity Coalition. More information about this issue is available at:
http://www.md-eic.org/

###

CONTACT US | SEARCH | PRIVACY POLICY