John, It’s settled science that the best way to securely cast votes is on a paper ballot, and over the last decade, states that were early adopters of electronic voting machines have been wisely moving to paper ballots. But in the last few years, we’ve seen the promotion and adoption of a new type of electronic voting machine - the “universal-use Ballot Marking Device (BMD),” a computerized device used to mark a paper ballot instead of a pen. Assistive BMDs were already commonly in use for voters of differing abilities, offering the voter assistive technology to mark a paper ballot privately and independently -- the same ballot that could be marked with a pen. The universal-use BMD model requires all voters to use computers to mark a paper ballot. The move to adopt universal-use BMDs was done in many states and localities without exploring whether or not the paper ballot produced by the BMD actually provides the same security and auditability properties as a traditional paper ballot. In addition, the administration of elections on multiple electronic devices is much more labor-intensive and expensive compared to traditional paper ballots. Are universal-use BMDs a case of adding technology where it’s not actually needed? Is this an expensive, glitchy, cumbersome solution in search of a problem? Finally, if the BMD may not be trusted to reliably record votes, does that infringe on constitutional voting protections? On Tuesday, June 22, join us for a virtual forum featuring experts in election administration and computer science to explore the rapidly expanding ballot marking device technology. We will explore the key questions raised by the broad use of ballot marking devices in our elections and will seek to inform election officials, state and federal lawmakers, and more regarding these considerations. Today’s Electronic Voting Machines:
An Examination of the Use and Security of Ballot Marking Devices Tuesday, June 22, 2021 12:00 PM EDT - 5:00 PM EDT Zoom Webinar Co-sponsored by Free Speech For People, the Coalition for Good Governance, Professor Richard DeMillo, Chair of the School of Cybersecurity and Privacy at Georgia Tech*, and Professor J. Alex Halderman of the University of Michigan’s Center for Computer Security and Society* RSVP HERE We hope you’ll join us for this critical examination of the growing use of electronic voting practices in the United States. Click here for the full program. See you soon, Susan Greenhalgh
Senior Advisor on Election Security, Free Speech For People *Affiliations listed for identification purposes only and do not imply institutional endorsement. | 
