Good morning, dear seekers.
Your faithful deputy editor Sarah here again, directing my morning coffee Jan is on vacation.
New analysis from Pitt Cyber AND Citizens for better choices will find that some county voters are paying nearly twice as much for novel voting machines as their neighbors.
This is true even as experts say cheaper systems – which involve a hand-marked ballot – are more secure.
“…County average cost per voter a [all-ballot-marking devices] setup ($23.35) is almost twice as expensive as setup [hand-marked paper ballots] plus BMD configuration ($12.51),” according to the analysis. “Not surprisingly, the majority of counties (24) chose the HMPB plus BMD configuration, representing almost 60% of registered voters in the 31 counties that chose the new voting system.”
In 2018 Governor Tom WolfThe administration announced that counties would be required to purchase novel voting machines before the 2020 primary election. To assist counties pay for the machines, the governor in July ordered the issuance of $90 million in bonds to cover 60 percent of the costs.
Citizens for Better Elections, “a nonpartisan citizens’ group dedicated to promoting the security and efficiency of Pennsylvania’s elections,” says hand-marked paper ballots are the gold standard because they put “the least amount of technology between the voter and his or her vote, preventing the possibility of occurrence of errors caused by machine failure, incorrect calibration or hacking.”
A recent report from Brennan Center for Justice doubles down on this adviceHow Route Fifty notes.
“Paper-based systems provide greater security because they create a paper document that voters can read before casting their ballot,” the Brennan Center report said. “However, these paper records will have little security value unless they are used to check and confirm electronic billing.”
Our stories
Staff reporter Stephen Caruso collects reactions from unions and lawmakers to the planned closure of two state facilities for Pennsylvanians with intellectual disabilities.
How Wolf and state lawmakers called for gun restrictions, House members debated the need for additional measures on the private email network.
On our comments page: John A. Turesprofessor of political science at ul LaGrange Collegewonders: Has an assault weapons ban reduced mass shootings? Just look at the data.
Also in the comment: Penn State researchers consider the cost of the opioid epidemic.
Elsewhere
Pennsylvania Municipal Economy Committee asked Sunoco Pipeline for information on what would happen in the event of a failure of part of the Mariner East pipeline, PA Post reports.
President of the Court Representative Rob Kauffman I want Inspector General Bruce Beemer to investigate a series of murders committed by parolees. PennLive has more.
The Questioner from Philadelphia asks: Since Pennsylvania no longer has general aid, How will people cope?
Jalopnik claims that (in some way) it was the first Governor Daniel Hastings he was a hero… for cars.
The appellate court does confirmed the decision rejection of a lawsuit brought by truck drivers against Turnpike CommissionAccording to Lawyer.
Wolf watch
At 10 a.m., Governor Wolf will sign an executive order to combat gun violence. The signing of the agreement was postponed from Thursday to Friday after the shooting of six police officers in Philadelphia.
What’s going on
Representative Jake Wheatley will host a House Democratic Policy Committee hearing on the “financial future of Pennsylvanians” in Pittsburgh.
Heavy rotation
Words James Ageemusic Samuel Barberand voice Leontyna price: “Knoxville: Summer 1915” is truly the perfect American summer song.
And now you’re up to date.
