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Same old same old

Unfortunately, this occurrence is not the first time such shenanigans have been pulled on Voter Verified Paper Ballot Legislation. Last year the VVPB bill was gutted much more shamelessly to read almost like an advertisement for Diebold and as an explanation that verified voting (i.e. pro democracy) advocates were whiny little children. This year they were more careful. They gutted the bill on Friday and set the vote for it on the following Monday, hoping no one would notice. Well, we did notice, and were able to raise enough public ire to get the bill sent back to committee where it will no doubt die ignominiously. Fortunately, HB18, the companion bill in the house emerged basically unscathed (implementation date was changed to 2010 and the audit provisions were trimmed, but not eliminated) and has been cross filed in the senate and can be voted on as is. I urge all Maryland residents reading this to call your state senator and insist that they vote for the cross filed HB18. It is our only hope for VVPB legislation this year.

by sherpa on Tue Apr 03, 2007 at 10:48:57 PM EST