The President's Commission on Election Administration issued a report two years ago that included this passage: "Perhaps the most dire warning the Commission heard in its investigation concerned the impending crisis in voting technology. Well-known to Election Administrators, if not the public at large, this impending crisis arises from the widespread wearing out of voting machines purchased a decade ago ..."
In September of 2015, New York University's Brennan Center for Justice also issued a report, "America's Voting Machines at Risk." It raised concerns including the failure of equipment to work as intended and the difficulty of finding replacement parts for machines that are no longer manufactured.
The Brennan Center report points out that many voting systems rely on software that is out of date, making it impossible to find hardware that is compatible with the antiquated operating systems.
New equipment is an undeniable priority. It goes without saying that elections are a government responsibility that must be funded. Their integrity is fundamental to our democratic form of government.
The best path forward is for states to work together to craft a funding solution.
It is up to elections officials to acquire or develop voting systems at the best price. They must be compliant with Federal and State laws that require a fully accessible voting experience for all individuals, particularly those with disabilities.
With Congress stuck in partisan gridlock, states are on their own. They must commit to a plan and provide ongoing funding to ensure that our elections are reliable and secure and that every vote is counted and every ballot accounted for.
Democracy demands it.
CLICK HERE to read the report.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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