The League of Women Voters have published a guide to the Secretary of the State Candidates, listing their qualifications and their responses to two questions <read>
Jerry Farrell, Jr.
The Secretary of the State and local registrars of voters are responsible for both running our elections and conducting post-election audits of our voting machines. Would you support legislation and funding to require post-election audits to be conducted by others than the same local officials who conducted the local election? Please explain.I do believe that there are improvements that can be made in the post-election audits that would enhance the credibility of the election process. It will be my responsibility to ensure that our elections are open and fair. I support having “outside auditors” as part of the post-election audit, as it would add to the transparency and legitimacy of both the audit and the election itself. I do believe that we need to approach the idea in a way that does not add to the financial burdens and mandates that municipal and state governments are facing.
Denise Wright Merrill
The Secretary of the State and local registrars of voters are responsible for both running our elections and conducting post-election audits of our voting machines. Would you support legislation and funding to require post-election audits to be conducted by others than the same local officials who conducted the local election? Please explain.There is no greater mandate than to ensure elections are fair, open and accountable. The Secretary of the State randomly selects precincts to be audited and audits are open to the public. This provides accountability.
I believe that post-election audits should include third party review. I would work with the coalition that proposed these solutions to determine whether this could be achieved in a cost-effective manner. I would also review other recommendations made by the coalition such as requiring best practices and consistent procedures for post-election audits and propose legislation to conform our laws to those practices.
No responses were received from other candidates on the ballot.
