The League of Women Voters' decision to rescind its support of electronic voting systems, absent a dependable paper record of votes cast, is a responsible recognition of a shortcoming that could be fatal to election reform. It would be senseless for the nation to spend billions to update voting systems without requiring fundamental safeguards to ensure election integrity.
The League's retreat this week from its earlier support of new electronic voting machines should be a signal to the states, which are buying new systems in the wake of the problems experienced in the 2000 presidential election in Florida.
Congress appropriated $3.9 billion in 2002 to help the states buy new voting machines under the misguided assumption that the election problems in Florida were primarily mechanical. In fact, they were largely the result of human error and flawed ballot design made apparent by the closeness of the election tally.
The League's change of position, at its biennial conference in Washington, D.C., was the result of informed opposition from members of the organization. Most vocal were those from the Silicon Valley in California, where computer-savvy members recognized the potential problems of paperless systems. Critics have cited their vulnerability to computer hackers, as well as the impossibility of handling election protests without a paper record of votes.
The League's latest resolution supports "voting systems and procedures that are secure, accurate, re-countable and accessible." That should be the goal of every election commission, state and local, in the nation. Planned purchases of electronic voting machines that don't meet the standard should be suspended.
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