Despite the numerous problems citizens have experienced with voting machines and the lack of paper trails in the last two elections, Republicans in the House of Representatives have voted against a new method that would help the problem a bit. The new proposal would send help from the federal government whenever a local government has an issue with electronic voting.

From Politico:

Under the Emergency Assistance for Secure Elections Act, the federal government would help localities switch to paper ballots or attach printers to their electronic voting machines in time for the November elections. To overcome states’ rights objections, [Representative Rush] Holt crafted the bill as an opt-in: Nobody would be required to switch technologies or conduct audits, but federal funding would be available to offset costs for those who did.

Without the passage of this proposal, local governments will have to pay for everything they want. However, many smaller local governments rarely have the means to conduct such measures.

It’s not wonder that voting rates aren’t as high as they could be. When people don’t think their vote counts, they won’t vote. Sketchy electronic voting machines are too unsettling to not have something done about them.