[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 39 (Monday, April 3, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E473]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E473]]



MARICOPA COUNTY, ARIZONA, LAUDED FOR TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES IN VOTE-BY-
                                  MAIL

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. BOB STUMP

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 3, 2000

  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, today, April 3, 2000, the 2000 Information 
Technology Innovation Collection will be formally presented to the 
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. I am proud to let my 
colleagues know that the Maricopa County (Arizona) Election 
Department's Vote-By-Mail technology program will become part of the 
Permanent Research Collection on Information Technology at the 
Smithsonian in recognition of how Maricopa County is utilizing new 
information age tools to extend the benefits of technology to voters.
  Maricopa County is the fifth largest county in the United States, and 
is more than 1.4 million voters. In an effort to provide alternative 
methods of voting to increase voter participation, reduce voter apathy 
and thwart the stereotype that government is antiquated and inflexible, 
the Elections Department has devised and implemented a Vote-By-Mail 
program in which voters are encouraged to request mail-in ballots by 
phone, mail, Internet, or walk-in. Overall voter participation has 
increased since 1992 when Vote-By-Mail was first available for all 
voters, and mail-in ballots have grown to account for a third of the 
total ballots cast in the last election.
  The benefits of the Vote-By-Mail process include ease and 
convenience, more time to study issues or candidates appearing on the 
ballot, and relief from time constraint problems on election day such 
as conflicting job hours or transportation issues. The most evident 
benefit in past election statistics is the overwhelming increase in 
voter turnout.
  Through the implementation of several new hardware and software 
technologies, the Maricopa County Elections Department has created a 
system which allows for the timely, reliable and secure storage and 
access to voter affidavits, efficient yet stringent and accurate 
tracking, processing and return of voters' ballots, systematic record-
keeping, and a verification system for ballot security which checks the 
voter's signature as well as insuring that a voter meets the criteria 
that they maintain their registration throughout the 33-day early 
voting period which insures confidence in a fraudulent-free voting 
method.
  Nominated by Michael Dell, Chairman and Chief Executive Office of 
Dell Computer Corporation, in the Government & Non-Profit Organizations 
category, Maricopa County Election Department's work is part of a 
collection that includes over 440 of the year's most innovative 
applications of technology from 38 states and 21 countries.
  Karen Osborne, Maricopa County Elections Director; Reynaldo 
Valenzuela and John Stewart of the staff from the Maricopa County 
Elections Department will be attending today's Presentation Ceremony, 
returning to Phoenix to present the Medal to the Maricopa County 
Recorder, Helen Purcell, in a special ceremony at the Recorder's Office 
on Thursday, April 6, 2000.
  Mr. Speaker, I bring this special recognition to the attention of my 
colleagues as a tried and true technological means to increase voter 
participation, and congratulate Maricopa County Recorder Helen Purcell, 
Elections Director Karen Osborne and their staff for their outstanding 
work and well-deserved recognition for conducting Vote-By-Mail 
efficiently, accurately and safely.

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