Bysiewicz discusses voting reform

By BRIAN FRAGA, New Britain Herald staff writer

SOUTHINGTON -- Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz addressed members of the Southington Rotary Club Wednesday in a speech focusing on her office’s voting reform efforts and business development initiatives.

Bysiewicz explained to the 40 Rotary members assembled in the community room at The Orchards retirement community exactly what her job title entails and how she has gone about fulfilling her responsibilities since being elected secretary of the state in 1998. "Since the Florida (voting) debacle in 2000, people seem to have a better idea of what I do," Bysiewicz said. "I’m like the CEO of a $100-million business that turns a profit for the state of Connecticut."

State corporations and LLC’s have to register with her office and update their business profile and information annually. Bysiewicz was the first secretary of the state to post that information on the Internet and says she plans to also have an online file of business documents such as annual reports and merger papers. "The information is good for people with LLC’s and corporations to see what their competition is doing," Bysiewicz said. "Having the information online also makes you sure your information is accurate and that you know it is there."

Election reform has also been a major focus of Bysiewicz’ term, and she detailed to her audience a particular initiative she is championing that would allow three Connecticut municipalities to test electronic voting machines. According to a federal law signed last year by President George W. Bush, each state must update its voting systems by 2006. Known as the Help America Vote Act, Bysiewicz called it "one of the most important voting rights legislation since the National Voting Rights Act of 1965."

Bysiewicz is proposing three towns use electronic voting machinery for the 2003 municipal elections. She said the technology would give voters the option to confirm their votes on a screen and would print a hard copy of each ballot. Bysiewicz was not concerned whether the elderly could handle the technology. - complete article