Tests Continue to Find Weakness in Electronic Voting Machines

A new report issued by New York University's Brennan Center for Justice concluded that the three major electronic voting systems in use have significant security and reliability vulnerabilities. Most of the vulnerabilities can be overcome by auditing printed voting records to spot irregularities. 26 states require paper records of votes, but Florida is not among them. The machines expected to be used in Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties do not provide a paper record, so the results could not be audited.

"With electronic voting systems, there are certain attacks that can reach enough voting machines . . . that you could affect the outcome of the statewide election," said Lawrence D. Norden, associate counsel with the center.

The Florida Secretary of State has been working to restrict the ability of local governments to test their voting equipment for security after Leon County Supervisor of Elections, Ion Sancho, conducted tests revealing serious security risks which could be used to swing an election.