SAN BERNARDINO - After last week's decertification of the touch-screen voting system used by San Bernardino County, California's Secretary of State Debra Bowen said she is willing to recertify the machines if more security safeguards are put in place.

But with the 2008 primary elections just a few months away, county elections officials are scrambling to find solutions.

County Registrar of Voters Kari Verjil attended certification hearings in Sacramento and took the position that the county's Sequoia voting system is safe and secure as it is.

"The testing of the unit was not conducted in a real election environment," Verjil said.

Free access is not available to the county's voting system, Verjil said.

On Friday, Bowen decertified the Sequoia touch-screen voting machines used by San Bernardino and other counties. Bowen cited security concerns that could allow hackers to change election results.

San Bernardino County spent $16 million on the Sequoia system.

Matthew Bishop, a University of California, Davis professor who spearheaded the testing, said that despite the fact that they were given a lot of time and access to the system, some attacks could be carried out in a matter of 30 seconds or less.

Verjil said the voting machines are stored in an alarmed environment with security cameras, and poll workers receive training in security procedures.

"We know where they are at all times," Verjil said.

The machines can be used in the November election but not for the three elections in 2008. Verjil said that Bowen seemed to imply that paper ballots will have to be used for the Feb. 5 primary.

Verjil said that she is analyzing Bowen's report to see how they will affect the elections in 2008.

"One of the issues of concern to me is if we do go to paper, the election results will most likely be delayed because processing them takes longer," Verjil said.

Verjil also said that going to all paper ballots would require retraining the poll workers.

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors is waiting for Verjil's analysis, said David Wert, spokesman for the county.

"I'm not aware of any board members that have expressed any concern over the safety of the county's touch screen voting machines," Wert said.

Ryan Orr may be reached at 951-6277 or rorr@vvdailypress.com

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Bowen's Red Team Compromises Each Voting System Tested
• 3 Voting Systems Faulted - LA Times
• Overview of Red Team Reports - August 2007
• Diebold Hack
• Hart InterCivic Hack
• Sequoia Hack
• Top-to-Bottom Review