Computer Voting Expert Ousted From Elections Conference
Lynn Landes
freelance journalist
Denver CO Aug 1 - Dr. Rebecca Mercuri, a leading expert in voting machine security, had her conference credentials
revoked by the president of the International Association of Clerks, Records, Election Officials, and Treasurers
(IACREOT), Marianne Rickenbach. The annual IACREOT Conference and Trade Show, which showcases election systems to
elections officials, is being held at the Adam's Mark Hotel in Denver all this week.
Mercuri believes that her credentials were revoked because of her position in favor of voter-verified paper ballots for
computerized election systems. "I guess in a very troubling way it makes sense that an organization like IACREOT, that
supports paperless computerized voting systems, which are secret by their very design, would not want computer experts
who disagree with that position at their meetings."
Dr. Mercuri said that her credentials were approved for the first three days of the conference. She attended meetings of
other groups and visited the exhibitors hall. But it was only on Thursday as she sat down to attend her first meeting at
the IACREOT that President Marianne Rickenbach took Mercuri out of the room and told her that her credentials were being
revoked. Rickenbach said that Mercuri had not filled out the forms correctly. Mercuri protested, but was refused
reinstatement.
David Chaum, the inventor of eCash and a member of Mercuri's 'voter-verified paper ballot' group, had his credentials
revoked on the first day of the conference. On the second day his credentials were partially restored. Chaum was allowed
to visit the exhibitors hall, but not attend the IACREOT meetings.
Rickenbach was unavailable for comment as of this report. Mercuri can be reached at the Adam's Mark Hotel through
Saturday.
ENDS