Press Release: Environment  4 July 2006

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Dún Laoghaire, Environment, Justice and Latest Press Releases

4 July 2006

Green Party says Electronic Voting criticism vindicated
 

"It is astounding that the report concludes that the paper system is superior to the electronic system"

The Green Party says that the second report on Electronic Voting strongly vindicates its stance on the issue. The report was published today by the Commission on Electronic voting.

Green Party Environment spokesperson Ciarán Cuffe TD said: "Electronic Voting was rushed through the Dáil by an arrogant Minister who refused to take on board legitimate criticism.

"It is astounding that the report concludes that the paper system is superior to the electronic system. This is an indictment of a Government that dismissed any criticism of the chosen system.

"The Green Party supports Electronic Voting, provided that there is a voter verifiable audit trail, and provided that there are valid economic arguments for its introduction. The concerns about software quality and programming errors are a damming indictment of the system. Based on today's report, the introduction of Electronic Voting has been an ill-conceived failure.

"We welcome the conclusion* that 'there is an increased need, in the context of electronic voting, for the establishment of a single independent statutory electronic commission for Ireland.' We have argued this from the beginning of the Electronic Voting debacle.

"Minister Roche would be well-advised to bring these machines to a recycling centre rather than pay for their costly storage."

*See (R.41 on p206)