TDP Files Lawsuit to Ensure Ballot Integrity
TDP FILES LAWSUIT TO ENSURE BALLOT INTEGRITY
eSlate Machines Disenfranchising Some Texas Voters
(Austin, TX)-Today, the Texas Democratic Party filed a lawsuit in United States District Court challenging Secretary of State Roger Williams' failure to require electronic voting machines properly record and tabulate votes, particularly straight-ticket votes. According to Texas law, every county must count votes the same way, but voters who reside in counties that employ eSlate electronic voting machines have their votes recorded differently than voters who reside in counties employing other voting systems.
"With this lawsuit, the Texas Democratic Party is taking steps to safeguard the accuracy and security of each voter's ballot and ensure Texas voters have confidence in our election system," said Texas Democratic Party Chair Boyd Richie. "Protecting the integrity of the electoral process is not a partisan issue. Every voter deserves to cast their ballot with full faith their voice will be heard, regardless of political affiliation."
On the eSlate machines, when a voter chooses a straight-ticket vote and then continues to select candidates of the same political party to "emphasize" their vote, the machine actually records no vote. This is inconsistent with the tabulation of absentee paper ballots, as well as electronic voting machines used in other counties across the state. The irregularities relating to the eSlate voting system have affected the outcome at least one race, located in Madison County. However, there are 101 other Texas counties that employed these erroneous machines in the 2006 election.
Additionally, the Secretary of State's office is required to test all voting machines used in Texas elections and knew of the irregularities related to the eSlate machines, which are manufactured by Hart InterCivic. Yet Secretary Williams allowed the machines to be used anyway.
"As the State's Chief Election Officer, Roger Williams is responsible for upholding the integrity of our electoral process. However, by certifying voting systems that actually ignore voter's choices, the Secretary of State has failed to perform the most basic function of his office--ensuring the fairness and accuracy of our elections," said Richie. "I call on Secretary Williams to restore the rights of Texas voters by reprogramming the eSlate machines to accurately record voters' choices or discontinuing their use altogether."
As a one of the two major political parties in the state and an entity responsible for administration of primary elections, the Texas Democratic Party is seeking a temporary restraining order prohibiting the Secretary of State from certifying or permitting the use of eSlate voting machines without first requiring the system to be reprogrammed in a manner that is consistent with law and other voting systems in use throughout the state. If the system cannot be reprogrammed properly, the TDP is also requesting an order to prohibit the use of eSlate machines in any future election.
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