County asks to help test voting project
Program would allow overseas, military absentee voting onlineBy PAMELA BRUST pbrust@newsandsentinel.com
PARKERSBURG - Legislation to establish a pilot program to test online absentee voting for military and citizens living overseas in the 2010 election is now law.
The "Uniformed Services and Overseas Voter Pilot Program" passed Nov. 19 during the special legislative session was signed by the governor on Dec. 3. The legislation authorizes creation of a pilot program to allow counties that meet minimum requirements to use available voting technology so uniformed services members and overseas citizens can vote absentee online.
Participation in the pilot program will assist counties and the state in identifying areas for potential modification as larger pilot programs are authorized by the federal government under the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act. The pilot programs authorized by this article are only applicable to the primary and general elections in 2010.
Once developed, the pilot programs would then be evaluated and reports submitted to the Legislature so that minimum voting system requirements could be developed.
Wood County Clerk Jamie Six said the Secretary of State's office has begun working out procedures and policies for the pilot. He sent a representative to attend recent meetings so they could stay on top of progress being made on the project.
"We want to become one of the pilot counties in that process. I recently spoke at career day at the armory and it's my understanding our local troops may be deployed again, and I would really like to do everything we can to make sure those serving overseas get to vote in all the elections and that the process is as easy as possible," Six said.
Six noted there are always security concerns anytime the Internet is involved.
"They are considering security safeguards. At the same time, we want to make sure it's as easy as possible, with as few burdens as possible for our troops who are serving overseas," the clerk said.
Proposals for the pilot program are due Jan. 8, 2010, counties chosen are supposed to be notified by the end of January.
There are 42,000 West Virginians eligible for this online absentee voting service, there were only about 4,200 who actually voted absentee ballots in the last general election, according to state elections officials.
Secretary of State Natalie E. Tennant's office drafted the legislation.
Counties that choose to participate will set up an online system where the military and overseas voters receive a security code to go online to a secure Web site and access a ballot. Once the person has cast their ballot that vote is then transmitted back to the county to a secure computer. Not only is this system secure, but it ensures the privacy of the voter and their vote, according to the Secretary of State's office.
"These men and women are overseas defending the right to vote, and yet it was so difficult for them to cast an absentee ballot," Tennant said. "That had to be changed. This way, members of the military can cast their ballot easily and more securely. And they save time and money by not having to mail their ballot all the way home."
|
gorilla
|
|
|---|---|
|
12-25-09 2:27 PM
|
Will ACORN be operating this test voting project?
|