Bill Nelson: “today, joined by Senator Whitehouse, I am introducing the Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2007. As…”

“today, joined by Senator Whitehouse, I am introducing the Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2007. As we enter the month of November, next year's national election is just one year away, and we must act now to ensure that the next time Americans go to the polls nationwide, they have the chance to cast their vote and have their vote counted as intended. Our bill will require all voting machines--beginning in the 2008 election--to produce a paper record of each ballot that can be verified by the voter before a ballot is submitted to be counted. This also is the first bill to propose a nationwide ban, by 2012, on the use of touch-screen voting machines in Federal elections. We are introducing this bill to address the problems that have plagued the accuracy and integrity of our voting systems. We know all too well the problems that have occurred in Florida--in the 2000 election and, most recently in the 2006 congressional election in the 13th Congressional District--but my State is not alone. Recent studies in California and elsewhere have demonstrated that touch-screen voting machines are unreliable and vulnerable to error. The bottom line is we have to ensure that every vote is counted--and counted properly. Citizens must have confidence in the integrity of their elections.”