Secretary Cox Hails Final Passage of Her Election Reform Package – Georgia First in the Nation To Mandate Uniform Voting System by 2004

Pilot Projects to Test New Electronic Equipment Begin in Municipal Elections This Fall, 21^st Century Voting Commission Will Evaluate Equipment Options Before Full Implementation of Uniform System

Legislation Also Streamlines Ballot, Strengthens Efforts to Remove Deceased From Voter Rolls, Clarifies Constitutional Amendment Language To Ease Voter Confusion

ATLANTA ... Georgia Secretary of State Cathy Cox today hailed final passage by the Georgia General Assembly of her comprehensive election reform package, S.B. 213, as a critical first step to address the serious shortcomings in election systems in Georgia.  Ms. Cox said the legislation puts Georgia at the forefront among states seeking to modernize voting equipment.

Final passage of the package, introduced on the Secretary of State’s behalf by Sen. Jack Hill (D-Reidsville) and carried in the House by Rep. Tom Shanahan (D-Calhoun), means that Georgia has committed to implement a uniform system of voting equipment, to be acquired and deployed by the State, by July 2004.  S.B. 213 passed the Senate by a vote of 50 – 0, while in the House the margin was 165 – 1.  The bill now awaits the signature of Governor Barnes, who has expressed strong support for the legislation.  According to media accounts, Georgia is the first in the nation to mandate a uniform system in the aftermath of the 2000 presidential election.

Secretary Cox is a strong advocate of new “touch-screen” electronic voting machines to reduce errors and increase convenience, speed and accuracy in the elections process.  The bill provides for a pilot program to test electronic equipment in selected municipal elections this fall.  It also creates a 17-member bi-partisan 21^st Century Voting Commission to establish standards, evaluate equipment performance in the pilot project and provide advice to the Secretary of State, the Governor and members of the General Assembly on what equipment Georgia should adopt for full deployment in all 159 counties.

  “With the passage of S.B. 213, Georgia is propelled to the forefront in election reform in the United States,” said Secretary Cox.  “I am grateful to the members of both chambers who took this bold step to make our elections much more accurate, more convenient and more fair.  Senator Hill and Representative Shanahan did an absolutely superb job of shepherding this complex legislation and addressing the concerns of members with questions and suggestions.  House Rules Committee Chairman Calvin Smyre also played a critical role in insuring the success of this initiative.  I am particularly proud that our bill, at every step of the process, had strong bi-partisan support and was passed nearly unanimously.  Democrats and Republicans alike showed they were unified in their concern that Georgia voters soon have systems that reduce the opportunity for error, that are user-friendly, and that provide equal opportunity to cast a valid ballot in every county and among all demographic groups.  Indeed, no plan for comprehensive election reform could be successful without the support of both political parties, and that is just what we had here in Georgia.  There is much work ahead as we begin to implement this ambitious plan.  I can’t wait to get started,” Secretary Cox added.

In the weeks following the November 7^th General Election and the Florida recount controversy, Secretary Cox undertook a wide-ranging study of Georgia election systems and their shortcomings.  Her report, called The 2000 Election: A Wake-Up Call For Reform and Change, documented a variety of problems in Georgia election systems, including antiquated equipment and significant variations in “undervote” performance from county to county.  S.B. 213 was crafted to address many of the shortcomings identified in the report.

Secretary Cox secured $200,000 in funding in the 2001 supplemental budget to implement the pilot program to test new electronic equipment in four or five municipalities this fall.  Ms. Cox indicated she expects to seek at least $5 million in the 2002 supplemental budget to fund the first phase of rollout for the uniform voting system.

Highlights of the bill include:

• Create a Statewide Uniform Electronic Voting Initiative to mandate that uniform voting equipment be provided to each county in time for the July 2004 General Primary.  The State (with, it is hoped, financial support from the federal government) will purchase equipment; counties will be responsible for providing funding for local technical support.

• Implement a pilot project to test and evaluate electronic voting equipment in four to five selected municipalities during the 2001 election cycle.  All equipment used in the pilot program must have received both national and state certification.

• Create a 21^st Century Voting Commission to evaluate equipment alternatives and recommend a preferred supplier for a uniform system.  The 17-member panel will be comprised of equal representation from each political party, with appointments made by the Secretary of State, the Governor, Lt. Governor, Speaker of the House, and will include local election officials and the Director of the Elections Division.

• Streamline the General Election ballot by eliminating the Non-partisan Primary used to select judges and other non-partisan posts.  Under current law, candidates for these offices appear on the ballot in July, are selected at that time, yet appear once again, unopposed, on the November General Election ballot.  The new law will eliminate this redundant second step, and reduce the number of selections voters must make on the General Election ballot.

• Reduce voter confusion by requiring a short, descriptive title for all constitutional amendments.  This provision will help voters more easily understand the amendments they are asked to consider on the General Election ballot.

• Reduce the opportunities for voter fraud by consolidating responsibility for removing deceased persons from the voter roll in the Office of Secretary of State.  Under current law, only counties are authorized to remove the dead from voting rolls, and several thousand deceased persons remain on the rolls today.  The new legislation authorizes the state Elections Division to assume this function, which should result in a more accurate voter roll.