Reader Note by Brigitta Mullican: A Verifiable Voting System

>Will Rockville consider using the optical-scan voting machines in the 2011 election? The City of Takoma Park used the new voter verified technology for their November 3rd Election.

Optical-scan voting machines offer a relatively high degree of verification support. These machines save a record of the votes and allow auditors to go back and verify results if necessary. Maryland should adopt optical-scan systems which cost less than the touch-screen voting systems.

More information about the 2009 City of Takoma Park election is available at their website.

More information about the Scantegrity application is available at www.scantegrity.org.

Brigitta Mullican

If you would like to contribute a Reader Note or other piece of writing, please send submissions to rockvillecentral@gmail.com. The more community voices, the better Rockville Central will be. Please remember that the views of contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors.

Contributor Opinion By Brigitta Mullican: Time For Candidates To Take A stand

>After November 3 Rockville will have a new City Mayor and Council. Who will the five individuals be? The one important question to the two mayoral and ten council candidates is “who will you vote for on November 3?” This is MOST interesting to me. The answer should include “why” they support a particular candidate over another(s).

Some of the candidates have already expressed their desire not to commit to any particular candidate; they say they will work with those candidates who are elected. In my opinion that answer is too vague and it would help me to know what team they believe will work best.

It is time for the candidates to take a STAND and be firm in who they believe will be the BEST Rockville city council members to represent all residents.

Brigitta Mullican

This is a contributor opinion. Rockville Central encourages readers to submit such opinions for consideration — the more voices the better. We especially welcome people who disagree with us. We ask that all such contributions be civil and we reserve the right to edit (in consultation with the author) or reject. Contributor opinions should not be seen as reflecting opinions held by Rockville Central editors, as they are just as frequently at odds with our own views. That’s the whole point!

Rockville Central does not endorse candidates. We are encouraging towards all people who choose to run for office the city and try our best to make ourselves open to all. We actively encourage candidates to submit opinion pieces and other news. We don’t include every last bit, but we try to be fair to all and give useful information about what is happening.

POTD: Irises

>

This photograph is by Rockville Central friend Brigitta Mullican. Of it, she says: “I missed the Azaleas when they bloomed, but I got back in time to see my Iris plants in bloom.” Me, I don’t know petunias from papier mache . . . I just think it’s cool how the blue of the house matches the sky!