Government Administration and Elections Committee
AN ACT CONCERNING A DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOR THE USE OF ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT FOR THE CASTING AND COUNTING OF BALLOTS AND PROHIBITING THE USE OF PUNCH-CARD VOTING MACHINES
SUMMARY: This act permits the secretary of the state to conduct a demonstration project using electronic voting machines in at least three towns during the 2003 and 2004 elections. It authorizes her to conduct an exit poll to solicit voters' reactions to the electronic machines and requires the State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC) to survey the volunteers who conduct the exit polls and the participating towns and report to the secretary on the results. The secretary must report to the Government Administration and Elections (GAE) Committee on the demonstration project.
The act prohibits the secretary from approving, and bans the use of, punch-card voting machines at any election, primary, or referendum held in the state.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
CONDITIONS FOR THE DEMONSTRATION
A town can participate in the pilot program if its registrars of voters and legislative body (or the board of selectmen in a town where the town meeting is the legislative body) approve the use of the electronic machines. The secretary must be able to acquire enough electronic voting machines and prescribe specifications for (1) their security, testing, set-up, operation, and canvassing; (2) the ballots; and (3) election officials' training. She must conduct the demonstrations in different towns in 2003 and 2004, and she must try to select towns for the project that are located in different regions of the state and represent a range in population.
She cannot approve use of a punch-card-type machine for the demonstration.
EXIT POLL
The act permits the secretary to conduct an exit poll using volunteers to solicit information on voters' experience using the electronic machines. The SEEC must survey the volunteers and officials in the participating towns and review the exit poll, if there is one.
REPORTS
By January 1 after each election covered by the act, the SEEC must report to the secretary on the demonstration, including its survey results and the exit poll. By February 1, the secretary must send a summary of the SEEC report, along with recommendations, on electronic voting machines to the GAE Committee.