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H.B. 479
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VETOES
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of the House and the President of the Senate. The State Administrator of Elections
has the option of seeking assistance with the study from computer specialists,
academic professionals, and community activists and is required to submit the
findings of the study to the General Assembly by December 1, 2005.
While I support the concept of utilizing independent verification systems and
understand the importance of examining our recent integration of new computer
technology into the administration of elections, the analysis of these systems to
protect the integrity of the process should be conducted in a process that is directed by
the Executive Branch. House Bill 479 fails to provide a role for the Administration in
this evaluation. Furthermore, it eliminates the Governor's ability to appoint members
to the Advisory Committee that is responsible for this study.
The procurement of touch-screen electronic voting systems was conducted by the
prior Administration. When these systems came under attack last year for their
veracity and reliability, the information technology unit at the Department of Budget
and Management (DBM) managed the State's program to have an independent
analysis and risk assessment to test the system's vulnerability to tampering or fraud.
Through this analysis, DBM lead the effort to rebut the challenges to the system's
security and provide the factual analysis to assuage public concerns.
Please be assured that the Administration is committed to instilling public confidence
in elections and ensuring that all Marylanders have the opportunity to cast a ballot
and have their ballot fairly counted. To this end, I will appoint a Commission to
examine and evaluate all of the election law bills passed this session and make
recommendations concerning our State's election process. Specifically, this
Commission will work with DBM and the Board of Elections to conduct such a study
as proposed by this legislation. I am confident the Commission will develop policies
and procedures assuring that fair and accurate elections take place within the State.
For the above stated reasons, I have vetoed House Bill 479.
Very truly yours,
Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr.
Governor
House Bill No. 479
AN ACT concerning
Election Law - Voting System - Study of Independent Verification Systems
FOR the purpose of requiring the State Administrator of Elections to study, review,
and evaluate independent verification systems, including at least one system
that includes a voter-verified paper audit trail, for the voting system currently
used in the State; requiring the study to be conducted during certain municipal
elections; authorizing the State Administrator to seek assistance from certain
individuals in conducting the study; establishing an advisory committee to
assist and advise the State Administrator in a certain review; providing for the
membership of the advisory committee; providing for the duties of the advisory
committee; requiring the State Administrator to report to the General Assembly
- 4104 -
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