CT-N has posted the video from the Veterans’ Affairs hearing. About a half-hour to three-quarters of an hour of the four and one-half hour hearing pertained to fax and email voting. Watching the Windows Media Player version, you can see the times and select testimony you would like to watch <video> (click on lower left where it says ‘open in media player’)
Earlier coverage <read>
Overall:
Sadly, CT has a 40% failure return rate according to the Secretary of the State (SOTS)
Here are some highlights:
0:34 Town Clerk of Waterbury for the Town Clerks Assn.
0:41 She discusses risks of fraud
0:44 Sen Slossberg the sponsor
0:51 Rep Alexander, a former Adjutant and Voting Assistance Officer
Describes the risks of Fax on the submission end
(Much worse than I had imagined, also where does
the ballot go after faxing? Would a soldier vote
the way he/she thinks higher ups would want,
assuming they might look?)
1:00 Deputy SOTS James Spallone
Good review of OVF data and security concern
1:10 Senator Slossberg
Has info from all 29 states that do email and fax return that there have never been any problems
1:54 Vet that had return problem
Sen Slossberg asks if he is smart enough to waive rights
1:59 Rhode Island SOS Office
No fraud allegations in all these years
Less risk in RI as they do centrally
53/1700 were sent in email/fax
Note: At 53/1700 sent in for RI, even if all those would not otherwise have been counted, then the return rate would only have been increased by 3.2%, after the system has been available since 1999. With the same success as Rhode Island, perhaps this bill would decrease Connecticut’s failed return rate from 40% to 36.8%.
