PA Election Reform

We must preserve the accuracy of Pennsylvania's electoral process. Confidence of Pennsylvania's voters is low. 
* Voter-Verified Paper Ballots in Pennsylvania would help.
* Require hand-counted audits in randomly-chosen sample precincts at all elections throughout the state.
==Public Comment to the PA Election Task Force from Mark Rauterkus ==
1. Make certain that the electronic voting machines that are deployed use "OPEN-SOURCE" software.
No not use closed, nor prioprietary code in the machines.
2. The primary election on Presidential years should not be moved as suggested by Gov. Rendell. An early election date is bad for PA for a number of valid reasons including weather, duties of PA voters, petitions for others on the ballot, and more meaningful results at the
end of the cycle. I put forth a long position paper on why the dates
should stay where they are.
3. Ballot access needs to be improved to those who are not Ds and Rs. As PA stays as a closed society, PA will continue to loose population. Our youth will depart. Others from around the world will not make a home here. If we can't put people onto the ballot, we can't put people
into our neighborhoods.
==Background==
In 2005, the Pennsylvania Governor's Election Reform Task Force has been meeting. The aim is to discuss and make recommendations as to how our state will comply with HAVA. 
A Voter-Verified Paper Ballot requirement is pending as part of Pennsylvania's new voting systems to be purchased under HAVA.
Pennsylvania Election Reform Task Force email is ST-PRESS@state.pa.us
==Count Votes with PAPER BALLOTS==
The call is out to use hand-marked paper, optical scan, or at LEAST with a voter-verified paper ballot coming out of any electronic machine you are required to use. Your paper ballot should take precedence over any machine count in the event of a discrepancy, audit, or recount. 
At the present time, the Reference Material posted online for the Task
Force includes numerous documents AGAINST Voter-Verified Paper Ballots!
It appears that there are strong forces afoot who do not want
Pennsylvania voters to have any opportunity to verify on paper how our
votes are being cast and counted.
Comments WILL be forwarded to the Task Force for future study. 
www.votePA.us
Pennsylvania Election Reform Task Force