Debra Bowen for California Secretary of State - Bowen better suited to be secretary of state

Bowen better suited to be secretary of state

San Jose Mercury News
Oct 10, 2006
Editorial San Jose Mercury News LEGISLATOR'S SKEPTICISM NEEDED IN MOVE TO ELECTRONIC VOTING The rapid introduction of electronic voting systems has elevated the visibility and the complexity of the secretary of state's office. Security flaws and machine breakdowns have undermined voters' confidence even as the new systems made voting easier and quicker. For the most part, California has been spared the electronic voting failures that have afflicted other states, as a result of strong legislation and wise actions by the last two secretaries of state. But serious potential problems remain, and the next secretary of state must be vigilant and proactive to deal with them. In next month's election, California is fortunate to have a choice between incumbent Secretary of State Bruce McPherson and state Sen. Debra Bowen, D-Redondo Beach. The office would be in good hands with either one. But while thanking McPherson for his service, we recommend Bowen, who has been the smartest and most diligent legislator on voting issues. The office was in shambles when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed McPherson 18 months ago to take over after the resignation, in disgrace, of Kevin Shelley. McPherson, 62, a former Republican senator and newspaper editor from Santa Cruz, restored confidence in the office and persuaded the federal government to reinstitute millions of dollars it had withheld. He calmed relations with county registrars of voters and also put in place certification procedures for electronic systems and Election Day testing of voting machines. All of this is to his credit. But recent studies by Princeton University and the Brennan Center for Justice underscore the need to do more to prevent vote fraud and improve system security. Bowen, 50, understands this and is far more skeptical of electronic systems than McPherson. Throughout her 14 years in the Legislature, Bowen has been a leading advocate for open government. Using technology on behalf of democracy has been her passion. She sponsored legislation that put bills and committee reports on the Internet; she served on a committee that brought the court system into the electronic age. As secretary of state, she would require tighter rules on electronic voting and encourage the creation of open-source software to guarantee security and accuracy. Their disagreement over SB 370, which Bowen sponsored last year, perhaps best illustrates the differences in philosophy and approach between her and McPherson. Now law, the bill required that counties use the voter-verified paper receipt, which touch-screen machines are now required to produce, for recounts and for random audits. McPherson opposed the bill, in large part because county registrars didn't want it. But SB 370 provides a critical check against fraud and machine malfunctioning, which Schwarzenegger recognized in signing the bill. McPherson is less likely to challenge county officials. But if county registrars had their way, none of California's landmark electronic voting reforms, like a paper trail, would be in effect today. A secretary of state must be willing to lead the registrars on issues of voting integrity and accountability. Bowen would do this. McPherson restored stability to the office. Bowen would bring dynamism and skepticism that the position needs. She is our choice. Link to article

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