AU Professor Testifies Before Congress

Juan Gilbert

Juan Gilbert

Auburn University professor Dr. Juan Gilbert, creator of the Prime III voting system, recently traveled to Washington, D.C., Wednesday in hopes of securing funds for electronic voting research. He testified before the Committee on Rules and Administration and gave testimony on the Bipartisan Electronic Voting Reform Act of 2008.

Prime III is an electronic voting system that is universal, meaning that anyone can use it. "Prime III allows people to vote by touch and voice... People who can't see, hear, read or use their hands can use this system," says Gilbert. http://www.primevotingsystem.com/

PrimeIII logo Currently, some people with disabilities have to have someone vote with them or use a separate booth. The system also has a function that independently verifies voting results, leaving a so-called electronic "paper trail."

"People say we don't trust the machine, and we say we don't trust them, either," he said. "What Congress has done is say, "Here is an approach we have not thought about," he said.

Gilbert said the proposed legislation, which gives and appropriates funds to voting technology research, is on point. Daniel Castro, senior analyst at The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation in Washington, agreed. "They (Congress) are actually spending time going out there and finding innovative systems," says Castro.

"In the past, funds have been allocated for voting research but never appropriated," explains Gilbert. "Hopefully, this time around, they will not only provide it, but direct it."

The Council for Independent Living in Birmingham, which promotes independent living for people with disabilities, used the Prime III system to vote for new board members a week ago.

"(People with a) wide range of disabilities were able to vote," said Dan Kessler, executive director of independent resources at the Council for Independent Living. "I think the research is great ... every vote counts."

Watch video of Dr. Juan Gilbert's testimony during the July 30, 2008 hearing.

Brittany Whitley
Staff Writer, Opelika-Auburn News

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