The King County Council today reiterated its support for countywide vote-by-mail elections in 2008 and established a dual preparation track for the King County Elections Section.

“The Council is committed to getting King County caught up with the vast majority of Washington counties by implementing a full vote-by-mail system in time for the 2008 elections,” said Councilmember Dow Constantine. “This motion reinforces our intent to implement vote-by-mail, asks that the elections section prepare our existing election system for 2008, invites the executive to continue working with vendors on a new system to replace our aging elections system, and strongly emphasizes security measures. It recognizes the results of the recent California ‘top-to-bottom’ tests of elections systems, requiring rigorous testing and including third-party review of any proposed new system.”

The motion states the Council’s preference that the 2008 vote-by-mail elections be conducted using current equipment and software, augmented as necessary by additional equipment of the same type, increased staffing and other resources. It further authorizes the King County Executive to continue working with vendors of new ballot tabulation equipment, but specified that this equipment must be officially certified by outside regulators and subjected to rigorous in-house testing using third-party security experts before it may be considered for purchase.

The Executive is instructed to submit a progress report to the Council by Dec. 31, 2007, that addresses the feasibility of conducting vote-by-mail elections with existing equipment – with an explanation if that preferred course of action is found to be infeasible – and report on the status of certification and testing of potential new ballot tabulation equipment.

The motion states a preference for disclosed-source software because of its transparency and potential for enhanced security. The Elections Section is also instructed to implement “the most rigorous, verifiable hand-tabulation audit procedures allowed by state law.”

“This legislation will ensure that we continue to do the work that is necessary to move King County toward an all-mail election system and provide the highest level of accuracy and transparency for King County voters,” said Councilmember Julia Patterson. “And with the ability to perform robust post-election audits, we can be sure our election tabulation equipment is performing as promised, and counting ballots in an efficient and accurate manner.”

The Council’s call for testing of King County elections equipment follows its review of findings released last Friday by the California Secretary of State. The report of that “top to bottom review” found that the security of a wide variety of current and new elections equipment could be compromised.

“California’s testing of elections equipment confirms my original concern that we need strong, independent testing of our own elections system, said Councilmember Larry Phillips, who sponsored a motion adopted in April calling for the protection of election security in King County by obtaining expert, peer and citizen review of election security plans.

“We’ve now had three reviews of elections security here in King County – from our Citizens Elections Oversight Committee, from industry peer review, and from an independent expert – and all three confirmed the high need for improved security,” added Phillips. “Today the Council took steps to ensure that security and accuracy will remain fundamental priorities for our elections system as we move toward 2008.”

Read more about this legislation on the King County Council’s LEGISEARCH system and type in “2007-0402”