Smith County Resolution for Accurate Transparent Accountable Elections
Press Release June 9, 2023
Smith County, Texas CEC
NOTE: Signed April 18, the elected we're informed by email May 2 and the public is informed today.
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING LEGISLATION FOR ACCURATE, TRANSPARENT, ACCOUNTABLE ELECTIONS IN TEXAS
Whereas WE THE PEOPLE OF TEXAS deserve secure elections that are ACCURATE, TRANSPARENT (reviewable and auditable) with those who violate our election laws being held ACCOUNTABLE;
Whereas it is virtually impossible to maintain data integrity in a computerized election system;
Whereas we only know for certain that some unknown number of people cast ballots, the voting period began and ended, and winners were declared by a governing body;
Whereas we do not know that each ballot counted can be attributed to only a single properly registered person, that each such properly registered person only gets to vote one ballot, and that all and only legally cast ballots are tabulated as the voter intended;
Whereas our elections lack transparency, audit-ability of vote results and certifi-ability of election equipment;
Whereas ballots and voters are not reconcilable;
Whereas computerized election systems are expensive, complex, and opaque creating total dependence on election vendors
Whereas the computerization and vendor control of elections has led to the “ballot” getting farther away from the voter’s and even administrators’ control or understanding;
Whereas the lack of confidence in the Texas electronic election system erodes faith in our Republic;
Whereas the entire election process is outsourced including the Voter Registration Database, Poll Books, Vote Tabulation, and Election Night Reporting to media and to the Secretary of State sacrificing security for convenience
Whereas recent polls show that a great percentage of the population has lost faith in the security and accuracy of our elections;
Whereas securing Texas elections was the #1 legislative priority of the People at the Republican Party of Texas State Convention.
Now therefore, be it resolved that the Smith County Executive Committee demands the 88th Legislature to support legislation that seeks to minimize the opportunities for election mismanagement and manipulation, by requiring:
- Hand-marked, sequentially numbered ballots preprinted on counterfeit-resistant paper.
- Paper poll books, fixed before the election period.
- Precinct “neighborhood” level voting (no county-wide centers).
- Tabulation of ballots with secure/tamper resistant counter.
- Verifying vote results with hand counts and robust audits.
- Elimination of the gap between election day and early voting.
- Limiting mail-in voting to only those who legitimately need it.
- Cleaning and securing our voter rolls ensuring they contain only qualified and eligible citizens.
- Eliminating the costly and ineffective ERIC system.
- Restoration of felony penalties for fraudulent voting.
- Reinstatement of the Texas Attorney General’s prosecutorial authority to investigate and prosecute election and voter fraud.
- Prohibition of rank choice voting.
- Prohibition of foreign ownership of any election process or component/
ALL RESULTING IN AN ELECTION PROCESS THAT IS ACCURATE, TRANSPARENT AND HOLDS OUR OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE, MAKING TEXAS THE NATIONWIDE LEADER FOR ELECTION INTEGRITY.