ELECTIONS: Steps to integrity

Abuse and distrust in our elections is a national crisis. We must force Congress to enact election reform. Would they? In 1963, a quarter million marched on D.C. It resulted in the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It’s now time for a similar “Election Integrity Movement.” Here’s a start:

• Implement verified Voter ID. Abandon all existing poll books. All must re-register with a Real ID or U.S. Passport and proof of residency. Subsidize Real IDs so all can obtain one at no cost.

• All poll books must be in a “Secure Electronic Poll Book” (SEPB) database with blockchain audit trail for all updates, voting checkins, etc.

• Election software vendors must use a SEPB with third party verified source code, and compiled checksums.

• Ban electronic voting machines which do not record on paper ballots. Ban issuance of unsolicited mail-in ballots.

• Record absentee ballot issuance and receipt in the SEPB.

• At a polling place, all electors must present verified ID to register and/or vote. Signed affidavits in lieu of an ID are banned. Record checkins in the SEPB.

• When polls close, ballot boxes must follow “chain of custody” principles used to secure court evidence.

• Election counting centers must have publicly available live-feed cameras covering all areas where ballots are processed. Feeds must be recorded and preserved.

• Compare physical ballot counts to counts in the SEPB. A deviation of more than 0.2% triggers a recount. If still a deviation, a criminal investigation commences.

JOHN TAPPERO

Hayden