Secretary of State Boockvar announced today that her office has completed a mandatory re-examination of the ES&S ExpressVote XL electronic voting machine following a petition on behalf of registered electors of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania indicating that the new voting machines fail to meet election standards set by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and listing ten specific legal deficiencies.

Following Secretary Boockvar’s Reexamination Results (ExpressVote XL) 09-03-2019 national election security experts issued the following statements criticizing the Secretary’s office for lack of public transparency and for failing to uphold the state’s election standards.  

“We are profoundly disappointed that the Secretary’s office has conducted this re-examination in secret, without transparency or public engagement, which we believe to be in contravention of the requirements of the Commonwealth and the provisions of the Stein settlement. We are examining our options for further action,” said Susan Greenhalgh, Vice-President of Programs for the National Election Defense Coalition. 

“It is disappointing that Secretary Boockvar decided not to be fully transparent or to take our petition seriously,” said Kevin Skoglund, Chief Technologist of Citizens for Better Elections. “Every petition for reexamination since 1980 has included a demonstration where the public and petitioners were invited. This very well may have been the first top secret examination of a voting system in the history of Pennsylvania. It is also surprising that Secretary Boockvar decided to completely ignore six of the ways that the ExpressVote XL violates the election code.”

“The ExpressVote XL shouldn’t have been certified in the first place, because it doesn’t comply with state law designed to protect voters and the election itself. We’re deeply disappointed that the Secretary is allowing this unreliable, insecure, and illegal electronic voting machine to continue to be used when Pennsylvania’s counties have more reliable and secure options that cost taxpayers less money,” said Ron Fein, Legal Director of Free Speech For People.

Citizens for Better Elections, Free Speech For People, National Election Defense Coalition, and Protect Our Vote Philly are exploring all options to ensure that the Secretary of State’s office comply with election standards and election security.