Some NM County Clerks Balk As Paper Ballot Legislation Moves Forward

Click for an excellent summary of the paper ballot voting machine issues being considered by the NM Legislature by Warren Stewart of Vote Trust USA. The piece provides commentary on the response to Governor Richardson's initiative to purchase the machines for the entire state by Mary Herrera and some other county clerks. Excerpts:

"Mary Herrera indicates an inexplicable resistance by some to Governor Richardson's initiative to have a standardized voting system based on paper ballots in New Mexico," said Paul Stokes of United Voters of New Mexico. "Sure, the county clerks have work to do to get the new voting system in place. But most of that work is necessary anyway, because new voting systems must be in place by the November election to satisfy the requirements of the Help American Vote Act for accessibility by disabled voters. Eleven counties already use paper ballots, so the new system will be a minimal change for them. An additional eight counties have already ordered the equipment needed to implement a paper ballot voting system. The remaining New Mexico counties should be following their lead. "

... Election activist Terry Riley commented that "there is enough information available about the problems with the touch screen...machines that will guarantee legal challenges in any state that uses them. Paper ballots will give the public confidence that their vote can be checked manually if the electronic tabulating systems are questioned."