VOTING MODERNIZATION BOND ACT OF 2002 (Shelley-Hertzberg
Act)
Legislative Bond Act
THE QUESTION
Should the state borrow $200 million ($200,000,000) through the
sale of general obligation bonds to assist counties in the purchase
of updated voting systems?
THE SITUATION
Under present law, counties may purchase and use any of three
voting systems that have been certified by the Secretary of State
— Punch Card systems, Optical Scan machines, or Touch Screen systems.
The Secretary of State recently revoked certification on two types
of punch card systems (Votomatic and PollStar), effective July 2005.
THE PROPOSAL
Passage of Proposition 41 would authorize the state to sell $200
million ($200,000,000) in general obligation bonds. Monies from
the sale of these bonds would be used to assist counties in the
purchase of new voting equipment. Some specific provisions are:
- that the prescored punch card voting systems would be ineligible
for funding
- that a county must contribute one dollar of county funds for
every three dollars of bond monies received
- that a paper version or representation of the voted ballot must
be produced to be retained by election officials for use during
a manual recount or other recount or contest.
FISCAL EFFECT
The state would make principal and interest payments from the
state’s General Fund over a period of about ten years. The average
payment would be about $26 million per year.
The measure would result in additional costs to counties for one-time
matching fund costs and additional ongoing costs to operate, maintain,
and store the new voting equipment. In addition the counties would
have costs to train staff and voters on the use of the machines.
The magnitude of these costs will vary among counties. Additional
operating costs could be in the several tens of millions of dollars
statewide.
SUPPORTERS SAY
- These funds will help counties modernize election systems. This
will improve voting security, boost participation, and avoid costly
lawsuits arising from election irregularities.
- Punch Card systems may produce errors that can disqualify an
entire ballot.
OPPONENTS SAY
- Money to update voting systems should come from funds the state
already has — from tax dollars paid in income taxes, sales tax,
and other taxes. Taxes and fees we already pay would be more than
enough.
- As California faces fiscal uncertainties, taxpayers should not
be saddled with more debt.
For more information:
Supporters: Yes on Prop 41, (916) 325-8600, www.41-yes.org
Opponents: Honorable Dennis Mountjoy, (626) 357-8237, dmountjoy@aol.com
See also Smart
Voter Proposition 41 and "In
Depth".
You may link to any individual proposition page.
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