Electronic voting machines have their critics, but some Utah legislators are concerned that the state is not going far enough in revamping the way ballots are cast.

Instead of focusing on possible security flaws in electronic voting machines, members of the Government Operations Interim Committee questioned why the state was not looking at advances such as Internet voting. Sen. Brent Goodfellow, D-West Valley, said that with the cost of the reforms exceeding $25 million it only made sense to look at every possible method.

"I think we'll soon be using technology completely to vote, and we should go all the way," Goodfellow said. "It seems to me that we're using (the Internet) in so many other ways, and I don't understand why we can use it for banking and other things but we can't use it for voting."

But many people attending a public hearing this week told Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert that electronic voting machines lacked transparency and "re-countability."

"I ask you as a voter, as a constituent and as a neighbor that whatever you choose allows me to have faith in you," said Stacee Adams. "Make sure that whom I cast my vote for gets my vote."

The hearing came before the Voting Equipment Selection Committee will make a recommendation about a new voting system. Some speakers who identified themselves as software programmers or computer specialists questioned the reliability of a program that cannot be independently monitored.

"My concern is that the heartbeat of democracy is the vote, and the voting machine is the pump that keeps that lifeblood going," said Eric Hughes, who said he has worked as a software programmer for 22 years. "Select voting systems that are auditable externally, which reduces the motivation to alter them. Select systems that allow a live audit to avoid hazards."

Many of the speakers at this week's meeting had participated in a mock election on March 30 and evaluated four voting machines, one of which the state will probably purchase before the end of the year.

The new machines are being purchased to meet the requirements of the 2002 Help America Vote Act, which includes accessibility and security requirements that Utah's current punch card ballot system cannot meet. Most of the funding for the new machines is being provided by the federal government, although about $4 million will be needed from state and local governments for such things as training of poll workers.

During Wednesday's special legislative session, some lawmakers tested the machines and gave their input to the Utah Elections Office.

Rep. Douglas Aagard, R-Kaysville, said that testing the machines made him more comfortable with them. However, because the machines are more technologically advanced than people may be used to, the state will have to work hard to educate voters.

"Some people are not comfortable with the technology, and we will have to help them," he said.

Those who missed the meeting but who would like to comment may e-mail Herbert at gherbert@utah.gov until 5 p.m. Tuesday.

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