Drafter
Clerk 3/16/2007
Title
A MOTION calling for the protection of election security in King County by obtaining expert, peer and citizen review of election security plans.
Body
WHEREAS, public confidence in the election process rests on voters' firm conviction that the process is secure-that only qualified voters have voted and that the vote count is accurate and has not been tainted by either error or fraud, and
WHEREAS, the introduction of computer technology into the election process has improved elections by allowing results to be reported more quickly and by making possible new methods of verifying the accuracy of voter registration records and vote counts, and
WHEREAS, the use of computer technology has also created, however, a potential for new kinds of error and fraud, such as tampering with electronic voting machines, which must be guarded against, and
WHEREAS, the metropolitan King County council has recognized the importance of ensuring the security of the county's election process by adopting legislation requiring the executive to submit, for council review and approval, proposals for the purchase of new election equipment and software that address, among other things, the security issues related to those products, and
WHEREAS, the council believes that in conducting that review it would be beneficial to obtain independent expert, peer and citizen reviews;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
A. The council shall obtain independent review and analysis of the executive's proposals for purchasing new election equipment and software. The review and analysis shall be obtained from experts in computer and election security and from election officials.
B. The council shall also request that the King County citizens' election oversight committee review the election equipment and software proposals from a security standpoint and solicit input from citizens on election security concerns.
C. The council ...

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