Arizona Citizens for Fair Elections
   

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About ACFE

ACFE was started by a group of concerned Arizona citizens. We want to ensure the technology used to cast votes in Arizona produces fair, accurate election results. Worldwide electronics experts agree that current electronic systems are rife with errors and poor software design. More important, the use of these systems makes it nearly impossible to find or verify fraud. We believe fair elections are fundamental to our democracy and we are working with state legislators and government officials to improve voting systems in Arizona to make sure our votes count. To learn more about the issues, visit the About the Issues and What You Can Do.
ACFE Mission

Arizona Citizens for Fair Elections is a non-partisan citizen's group working to ensure fair and accurate elections. Our mission encompasses all aspects of the election process including election equipment and software, election procedures, election law, voter registration, and redistricting.
ACFE Position Statement

Arizona Citizens for Fair Elections (ACFE) is concerned with the vulnerability of electronic voting systems to software bugs, fraud, and data loss that could alter the outcome of an election. Our goal is to improve voter confidence by minimizing the potential for errors and fraud.

Specifically, we support
  • the use of voter verified paper ballots as the single official record of the vote;
  • sample hand counts for checking electronic vote tallies and detecting errors;
  • the use of software that is open and available for inspection;
  • thorough testing and certification processes that focus on tabulation accuracy and system security and allow for examination by multiple organizations;
  • sanctions against vendors and election officials that violate testing and certification requirements;
  • the Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2003 (HR 2239)

We oppose

  • paperless voting systems;
  • electronic counting with inadequate manual checking;
  • the use of software with known security weaknesses;
  • the use of untested or uncertified software in election systems;
  • the testing of software and firmware by a single Independent Testing Authority (ITA) that is paid by the system vendors.

Our concerns are based on

  • the inherent vulnerability of electronic systems;
  • the history of voting in which a system that can be manipulated will be;
  • the fact that paperless elections cannot be audited;
  • the inadequacy of existing testing procedures;
  • the known use of untested, uncertified software in Pima and Yavapai Counties, and  the City of Tucson in recent elections;
  • Arizona's use of Diebold Election System software with known security holes.
Under the terms of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA), Arizona is replacing punch card systems in nine counties with optical scan equipment. Arizona Citizens for Fair Elections is not opposed to the use of optical scan voting equipment. We are concerned, however, that the State has issued a contract to Diebold for this equipment.  Diebold software has been shown to be poorly written and at high risk of compromise. Additionally, Diebold has delivered, to Arizona and other states, firmware and software that has not been adequately tested and certified.

HAVA also requires the implementation of voting systems that accommodate the disabled, especially the blind. We oppose the use of paperless Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) systems for this application. We can accept the use of DRE systems that print a voter verified paper ballot but we prefer an electronic system that can print a standard paper ballot, such at the Vogue Election Systems Voter Assist Terminal or other similar device.
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