By Mr. Costello of Newburyport (by request), petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 637) of Jim Thivierge relative to the use of electronic devices to tabulate election results.  Election Laws.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

Jim Thivierge

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act relative to using electronic devices to tabulate election results.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. That there be no proprietary rights within the course of the elections process in Massachusetts and that all source code be made public to the public candidates and their singular proxy that controls the computer devices that tabulate the ballots by individuals, the registered voters of the city and/or town; That the candidates be allowed to test the computer program used in the computer device with their own data file test deck to ensure confidence in the process and the personnel and vendor; That candidates be allowed to view the available documentation of the tabulation process, the desk checking procedures, that the town/city clerk uses in counting/tabulating the votes for public candidates and questions; In the wisdom of the General court, the people’s representatives on the issues, this language be applied to all elections as well, all elections conducted under the auspices of this Commonwealth of Massachusetts, its agent the Secretary of the Commonwealth, and the city and town, county, clerks of the municipal corporations to the end of ensuring the validity and integrity of all elections conducted within its boundaries.