There has been a lot of publicity about voter fraud in recent years and much of effort has been focused on voter ID and updating and maintaining accurate voter registration rolls. However, the more important area where election fraud may be occurring is mail in ballots and in the electronic voting/counting process.
Election results can be changed most efficiently when the electronic ballots are tabulated at the Elections Office central computer facility. It has been demonstrated that computer code can be inserted in the central computer that changes the results as they are being tabulated. That code can then self-destruct leaving no trace of its existence and therefore no evidence of fraud.
Texas Election Code requires the retention of three types of election records for computerized voting to assure that a recount could identify any fraud.
1. Retain an image of all ballots cast
2. Paper Precinct returns must be signed, returned and retained
3. Result computation and tabulation of vote totals
Apparently Williamson County Elections keeps records 2 & 3, but not record type 1. In fact, it has been alleged that not one of the 254 Texas counties keeps an image of the ballots cast. Without the ballot image, one cannot be sure that computer code was not inserted into the voting system that changes the actual votes.
Dr. Laura Pressley, candidate for the Austin City Council District 4, found multiple inconsistencies regarding the results of her run off election and filed an election contest lawsuit. That appeal is to heard April 27. This case has the potential to significantly change voting and record retention.
The only foolproof method to stop voter fraud is to return to the paper ballot, since the minute vote data is converted to digital bits, it is subject to manipulation by very sophisticated computer programmers.
An effort is expected in the next legislative session to enact legislation requiring the use of paper ballots.
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