O.C. voting machines almost ready for 2006

Electronic voting machines in Orange County meet the new, stricter certification rules announced by Secretary of State Bruce McPherson on Wednesday, but they will need to be upgraded to ensure voters get a paper record of who they voted for starting in 2006.

By SORAYA SARHADDI NELSON
The Orange County Register

SACRAMENTO – Electronic voting machines in Orange County meet the new, more stringent requirements announced by Secretary of State Bruce McPherson on Wednesday, but they will still need to be upgraded to ensure voters get a paper record of whom they voted for starting in 2006, his office said.The missing component would generate a receipt similar to that of an ATM so voters can see whether their election choices were recorded correctly, according to McPherson's office. That "paper trail" requirement kicks in Jan. 1 under a state law sponsored by McPherson while he was in the Legislature."We must take these fundamental steps to guarantee public confidence in our voting process and accountability for its results," McPherson told the California Black Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon where he unveiled the new certification rules.

To curb the potential for errors in the Nov. 8 special election, McPherson said certain precincts across the state will undergo "parallel monitoring," in which a voting machine will be taken off line for tests during polling hours.