In 2008, the Tennessee General Assembly voted almost unanimously to make elections more secure, dependable and trustworthy by requiring a verifiable paper trail for each vote. The step was long overdue — more than 30 states already have such security measures.
But three years later, secure elections in Tennessee remain at risk, and voters may never know if their votes are counted.
The legislature has passed a bill that effectively repeals the Voter Confidence Act, dealing a devastating blow to democracy in Tennessee. The electronic voting machines used in 93 of our 95 counties are so vulnerable to fraud, thievery and computer malfunction that they can steal your vote even before you cast your ballot.
The machines can be hacked at the factory, during transport, or the night before an election. They can be manipulated during and after an election with simple tools like paper clips and telephone cords. A New York University task force found that “paperless touch-screen voting machines” like “those presently used in parts of Tennessee, are the least secure voting system” in the entire country.
Full Article: Bill wipes out voter safeguards | The Tennessean | tennessean.com.