Sensitive reports loom on electronic voting

By Greg Forester, Staff Writer
   Potentially damaging reports regarding the security of thousands of New Jersey’s electronic voting machines could be released as early as today, with only 18 days left until a highly anticipated presidential election.
   In June, Judge Linda Feinberg ruled that the machines would be subject to testing by a team of experts from Princeton University after the emergence of voting inconsistencies in counties where the machines were used during the 2008 presidential primary.
   The testers, including Princeton University professors Andrew Appel and Ed Felten, were instructed to compile reports on the security of the machines during the testing, which occurred this summer.
   The machines, made by Sequoia Voting Systems, first came under scrutiny in 2004 when the Rutgers University Constitutional Litigation Clinic filed a lawsuit challenging the machines on the basis that they failed to provide a voter-verified paper record.
   The suit was filed on behalf of several Mercer County entities including the Coalition for Peace Action and Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Princeton).
   Sequioa Voting Systems has objected to the release of the reports, citing secrecy surrounding the machines’ computer codes, but it appears that a decision to make much of the reports public was made during discussions among parties to the lawsuit earlier this week.
   Princeton-based Coalition for Peace Action officials, along with Mr. Gusciora, were upbeat about the release of the reports, but they also expressed concern about the reliability of the machines.
   ”We’re not pleased about the machines, but we’re pleased that the process is moving forward,” said Irene Etkin Goldman, chairwoman of the Coalition for Peace Action. “This is a landmark case.”
   Mr. Gusciora said any controversial information in the report could easily raise concerns among voters over the looming election, scheduled for Nov. 4.
   ”There could be concern,” said Mr. Gusciora. “But the voters need to know if the integrity of the voting process is protected.”
   It appears there could be cause for alarm within the reports, according to Ms. Goldman, who said Judge Feinberg’s reaction to the report gave that indication.
   ”Upon studying and reading the reports, she admonished the state” about the security of the machines, especially while in storage, Ms. Goldman said.
   Mr. Gusciora expressed similar concerns about the presence of machines in unsecured locations throughout the state, weeks before an important election.
   ”The $64,000 question is whether these machines are vulnerable,” he said.
   Officials from Sequoia, commenting on the potential release of the reports, said they were pleased that Judge Feinberg has indicated that sensitive information will likely be redacted.
   ”Sequioa Voting Systems is anxious for the simultaneous release of all of the expert reports associated with this case, including our report, in addition to reports produced by the plaintiffs and the defendants in this matter,” read the statement.
   Mr. Gusciora, who was the chairman of the Assembly Federal Relations Committee at the time, sponsored successful legislation that mandated voter-verified paper records.
   Regulations based on that law are set to go into effect at local polling places next year.