Proposal calls for uniform voting process across state

By Jeremy W. Peters

Daily Staff Reporter

Considerable concern exists that the current crisis involving the vote recounts in Florida could be replicated in other states unless voting systems are seriously reformed.

In Michigan, state Rep. Mike Kowall (R-White Lake) has announced he will introduce a bill to the Legislature in January that would standardize the process by which all precincts tally their votes.

"What we need is a standardized election process as far as how the vote is actually cast," Kowall said. "Optical scanning is the best way we can accurately keep track of votes.

"You would either connect an arrow or fill in a circle. You do it with a pencil and it's very simple."

Many voters who cast their ballots in Washtenaw County did so using the optical scan method. One benefit of the optical scan method, Kowall argued, is that it allows the voter to correct any mistakes.

"If there is a mistake the machine automatically rejects the ballot on the spot and the voter has a chance to revote. That way we're not looking for any pregnant or hanging chads," Kowall said, alluding to the recount procedure in Florida, where state officials were examining punch card ballots not completely punched out for any indentation that could indicate voter intent.

Officials at the Michigan secretary of state's office maintain the current controversy over which ballots to count - those completely punched through versus those partially punched or indented - would never happen here.

"Our law is very specific," said Liz Boyd, a spokeswoman for Secretary of State Candice Miller. "In Michigan, if there are one or two corners of the chad still attached to the ballot, it doesn't count. We really are a national role model for standards of conducting a recount because we have very definite rules ... that are objective and not subjective."

Miller has also proposed moving toward a uniform voting procedure. But Miller is not willing to embrace her fellow Republican's proposed electoral reforms quite yet.

"While we're pleased to see members of the Legislature coming out in support of legislation to standardize the system ... we are not ready to endorse optical scanning because we are still in the exploratory phase," Boyd said.

Boyd added that Miller is exploring all options, including - but not limited to - touch screen voting, which she called "truly a state of the art system."

Support for reforming and standardizing the way Michigan voters cast their ballots appears to have support on both sides of the aisle.

"I have no problem with the standardized voting system," said Sen. Alma Wheeler-Smith (D-Salem Twp.), whose district includes the University. "Specifically, the optical scan system gives you a good, fast read and it eliminates the chance for a double vote."

Initially, some Democrats in the state Senate had expressed concerns over the cost of implementing a uniform voting system, which has been estimated at $15 million.

"Fifteen million for an accurate count ... is worth it," Smith said.