My letter to the Governor

[FogerRox]

Dear Governor Codey,

The New Jersey certification process of voting equipment does in no way reflect the federal certification process. The list of NASED qualfying systems includes DREs with and without printers and optical scanners.
Optical Scanners are the sole voting system in major urban areas like Boston and Los Angeles. In New Jersey we can only choose from 6 DREs and to the best of my knowledge, only one has a printer.

The Attorney Generals certification process does not reflect real world priorities, 16 states have passed some form of voter verified paper record law. Another 6 states are considering a VVPR law. Montana and Vermont have banned digital ballots. Is the AG cognizant of this environment that seems to be pervasive across the nation. People dont trust computerized voting equipment and want a VVPR law. The AG should move to certify touchscreen voting equipment that has a printer available, now. The AGs management of the HAVA process borders on negligence. My Essex County Freeholders are between a rock and a hard place, and are not happy with the process as indicated by the 5 to 3 vote on June 9th, to not Issue a bond to pay for new voting equipment.

Governor Codey, the Freeholders deserve better. They are taking a lot of heat from the AG staff, and deserve your support. I ask you to get envolved, and ask the New Jersey Attorney General the hard questions.

Is the AG aware of the lower purchase price, longer service life, 10 fold increace in processing speed and lower operating costs of optical scanners, that are HAVA compliant ? Why has the AG forced NJ counties to choose from the most expensive possible voting systems available? In times of Federal, State & County deficits, the AG seems to show a wonton disregard for fiscal responsibility. With nearly half the nation moving towards VVPR law and New Jersey about to pass a VVPR law, the actions of the AG seem counter intuitive.

Roger Fox
55 Randolph Pl.
South Orange, NJ, 07079
[e-mail]