Iowa Voters

Computer scientists have been joined by statisticians. They both know that computerized ballot counts should not be taken at face value. Someone besides the computer programmer must know what the ballots really said. Someone must grab a pile and look them over, comparing a hand count to the official machine count.

The American Statistical Association on Monday called for audit “laws with teeth.”

Iowa has no audit law at all. The Iowa House passed an audit bill in 2009 but the Senate ignored it this session so it died. One know-it-all Senator said the law was a solution in search of a problem.

I wonder what the candidates for Secretary of State think. All four of them will soon receive an email from me asking their view.