Someone must of spiked the water in downtown Atlanta, because all of the sudden ever major politican, Democrat and Republican alike, is calling for a paper trail on our electronic voting machines.
Via the Atlanta Journal Constitution,
Politicians on both sides of the aisle Tuesday endorsed the idea of providing voters with a paper trail confirming their choices. Among those agreeing was Georgia Secretary of State Cathy Cox, who had previously opposed the idea.
...more below the fold
Cox, the state's top elections official, announced Tuesday that her office is working toward such a system.
Also Tuesday, Sen. Bill Stephens (R-Canton), a former Senate majority leader and a candidate next year to replace Cox when she gives up her office to run for governor, told reporters he will seek legislation to move Georgia toward paper receipts in 2006. Stephens' bill will probably be considered when legislators convene in January.
The paper concept was embraced Tuesday by most state leaders, including Gov. Sonny Perdue, House Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) and Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor.
I had to make sure I was fully awake after reading this, because it seemed so...completely fuckin unexpected. I don't know what exactly prompted this agreement on paper trails, but I hope it wasn't some secret government report that would give creedance to the tin-hat society.
My guess is that there was a poll that someone did saying that most Georgians want paper trails, and that the issue was hurting Cathy Cox (especially in her Democratic primary campaign for Governor.) I know this takes away the last major negative against her in my mind. So, <clears throat> Cathy Cox for Governor!