Technological tallies mandate further scrutiny While it’s...

Technological tallies mandate further scrutiny

While it’s good to know that Orange County is trying to make the

voting process easier for the voters, it’s important that the right

questions be asked about these new technologies.

Electronic voting systems are raising many concerns around the

country. How reliable is the hardware and software? What happens to

the votes if either of these fail? How secure is the system and the

network? Can hackers gain access like they can to supposedly secure

web servers? Who is certifying these systems and what means are they

taking to do so? Are they being allowed to see the source code? Would

they understand what they are looking at if they do see the source

code? In the event of a recount or questionable results, will there

be a paper audit trail?

The state of Nevada was so concerned about these questions that

they asked their Gaming Control Board (the same people who certify

electronic gaming systems) to look into it. They are now the only

state requiring auditable results on paper.

After the focus on the election process in his state, Sen. Bob

Graham of Florida has introduced “The Voter Verification Act,” which

would require computer voting systems to produce a paper record.

Until this federal requirement is in place it will be up to the

states to regulate these systems. So far, the state of California has

no such requirement.

I applaud the efforts to make the voting system easier and more

reliable. We should not take a Luddite stance on this issue. However,

we should use every means possible to insure that the process really

is secure and reliable before we implement it. Imagine being

nostalgic for the good old days of “hanging chads.”

CINDY BALLREICH

Newport Beach

Measure A frustrations not limited to Harbor View

I am writing to in regards to the Measure A work at Kaiser

Elementary. I am the chairwoman for the Measure A site committee at

this school and am writing to express the committee’s frustration

with the on-going problems at our school.

These problems have not been adequately addressed by the

management of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District and it is

placing our staff and students at risk. We began construction in

August of 2002. We currently have 24 classrooms partially renovated

and being utilized. We will have another phase of classrooms moving

to portables this weekend, despite our request to the district to

delay this move until after the students go on holiday break. This

request has been denied and the teachers have been asked to pack up

this weekend and move to a new classroom for Monday morning.

Our frustration is in the fact that none of the 24 renovated

classrooms is completely done with all the work that is needed. Our

request is that the work be completed before we renovate another

section of the campus.

Our major concern is the fact that the clocks, paging system and

alarms are not working in any of the classrooms. This is an unsafe

and dangerous condition, which has been in existence since August

2002. There are many other issues, but none as serious as our safety

concerns. (It currently takes three people, in three locations, to

sound alarm bells on campus -- few of which actually ring in the

classrooms).

As a committee, we feel that our concern for the welfare of our

school is being completely ignored, despite many attempts at

communication between our committee and district management.

After reading about the concerns of the Harbor View parents, we

are ready to let the citizens know about the concerns at Kaiser.

NIKI PARKER

Costa Mesa