COUNTY TO AUDIT TOUCH-SCREEN VOTING SYSTEMS HANDFUL TO BE TESTED IN WAKE OF CONCERNS ABOUT ACCURACY.Byline: TROY ANDERSON Staff Writer Amid growing national concern about the accuracy of touch-screen voting systems Noun 1. voting system - a legal system for making democratic choices electoral system legal system - a system for interpreting and enforcing the laws , Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County will conduct a random audit of 5 percent of the machines used in early voting Early voting, is the process which voters can cast their vote on a single or series of days prior to an election. Early voting can take place remotely, such as by mail, or in person, usually in designated early voting polling stations. , officials said Wednesday. Touch-screen voting at 17 county locations began Wednesday and will continue through Nov. 3. At the Norwalk Registrar-Recorder's Office headquarters, it's available through Election Day. But last month, an election watchdog group and others raised concerns that the maker of the county's new $25 million InkaVote Plus system -- which includes a ballot reader and an audio ballot booth -- had ties to an international gambling company. Citizens and various organizations also have questioned whether the system is secure and accurately records cast ballots. ``Everyone wants to demonstrate to the public that the voting process is accurate and totally transparent and open,'' Registrar-Recorder Conny McCormack said. ``This seemed like something we could do to reassure voters. It won't be onerous.'' The county uses about 150 touch-screen machines in early voting, so about seven will be tested, McCormack said. ``This is not a be-all and end-all be all and end all or be-all and end-all n. The quintessential or all-important element: "Not that the more spectacular athleticism is the be all and end all of free skating. Spins . . . , but it's positive, especially as long as (McCormack) allows the citizens to watch, take part and monitor (the audit and snap tallies) and that all the records are released to citizens promptly afterwards af·ter·ward also af·ter·wards adv. At a later time; subsequently. afterwards or afterward Adverb later [Old English æfterweard] Adv. 1. ,'' said Bev Harris, director of Black Box Voting Black Box Voting signifies voting on voting machines which do not disclose how they operate such as with closed source or proprietary operations. The term, as described by Dr. , a nonpartisan, nonprofit election-watchdog group. ``And if there are any discrepancies, they shouldn't stop there. They need to look further. Sometimes in L.A., they say: `We did an audit. It didn't match, but OK.' The devil is always in the details.'' In addition to the touch-screen audit, McCormack will audit 1percent of all the InkaVote Plus precincts pre·cinct n. 1. a. A subdivision or district of a city or town under the jurisdiction of or patrolled by a specific unit of its police force. b. and two other precincts that are part of early tallies for media outlets. troy.anderson@dailynews.com (213) 974-8985 |
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