Voters in Sarasota are being asked to consider replacing the county’s touch screen voting machines and mandating paper ballots instead.
After the election debacle of 2000 many Florida counties switched from paper ballots to virtual ones. But if paper ballots are subject to “Hanging chads” electronic voting brings concerns about lack of a paper trail – and the potential for hackers to manipulate election results. Kindra Muntz is the chair of Sarasota Alliance for Fair Elections – or SAFE – the group that got the “paper ballot” referendum in front of voters.

“Mandatory voter verified paper ballots, independent random audits of election results and audits required before certification, which is basically what many people around the country are asking for and what computer scientists and national studies have shown is really necessary to verify the accuracy of electronic machine results.”

SAFE endorses the use a paper ballot that is then scanned into a computer. Backers say if the referendum passes it could set a precedent for the rest of the state – and nationally as well.