[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 60 (Wednesday, April 16, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E623]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR SECURE ELECTIONS ACT OF 2008

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. STEPHANIE TUBBS-JONES

                                of OHIO

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 15, 2008

  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the 
Emergency Assistance for Secure Elections Act because I believe it is 
essential that we ensure every American's basic right to vote and to 
have that vote counted.
  Currently, 15 states still use paperless voting machines which have 
been proven to be unreliable and vulnerable to hacking. In the past two 
election cycles, voting machines have malfunctioned and votes have been 
lost forever. Computer scientists across the country have shown how 
easy it is to hack these voting systems.
  This bill will address these problems by providing the states with 
financial backing from the Federal Government in order to convert from 
electronic voting systems to paper ballot voting systems in time for 
the November 2008 elections. The bill also provides emergency paper 
ballots if the jurisdiction uses a direct recording electronic voting 
system which happens to fail.
  Today, 9 percent of the U.S. population records their votes 
electronically. These numbers vary greatly from State to State. Twelve 
percent of Ohio votes are recorded electronically; 80 percent of 
Kentucky voters use electronic ballots. Without an adequate 
confirmation method. mechanical deficiencies could have a drastic 
impact on close elections. This problem must not go unnoticed, and must 
be addressed.
  Considering the tremendous election discrepancies that we have seen 
take place in this country in 2000 and 2004, we know that we are still 
dealing with a flawed system. I believe that the passage of this 
legislation is paramount to ensuring that people throughout this 
country are not disenfranchised when they attempt to exercise their 
right to vote.
  The right to vote is a right every citizen of this country deserves. 
As Members of Congress, we all have an obligation to make sure all of 
our constituents' votes are counted through the most fair and accurate 
means available. The right to vote should not be reserved for just some 
of our constituents, but for all of our constituents. It is for this 
reason that I introduced the Count Every Vote Act of 2007 which seeks 
to provide an all-encompassing solution to a broad range of voting 
irregularities that occurred during the 2004 presidential election. It 
is for the same reason that I urge my colleagues to support the passage 
of H.R. 5036, the Emergency Assistance for Secure Elections Act of 
2008.

                          ____________________