California Secretary of State Home Home
Site Search
Contact Us
spacer
spacer Secretary of State Navigation Bar Elections & Voter Information Navigation Bar Campaign Finance Navigation Bar California Business Portal Navigation Bar Archives & Golden State Museum Navigation Bar Special Programs spacer
spacer
Elections & Voter Information
About Elections Division About Elections Division
Election Results and Election Dates Election Results and Election Dates
Register to Vote Register to Vote
Voter Registration Statistics Voter Registration Statistics
Voter Information Voter Information
Initiatives Initiatives
Voter Education Voter Education
Political Parties Political Parties
Candidate Information Candidate Information
Resources Resources
County Elections Officials Resources
Special Elections Site Map
Site Map Site Map
spacer
spacer
  		Elections and Voter Information
spacer
Open Source Software Study

letterhead

November 9, 2005

To Interested Parties:

California Secretary of State Bruce McPherson is leading a fact-finding, impartial study regarding the use of open source software in voting systems in California. Secretary McPherson is responding to Assembly Concurrent Resolution (ACR) No. 242, filed with the Secretary of State on August 31, 2004. ACR 242 asks the Secretary of State to investigate and evaluate the use of open source software in all voting systems in California. It also requests that the Secretary of State report his findings and recommendations to the Legislature by January 1, 2006. I have enclosed a copy of ACR 242 for your review.

In order to provide thorough research on the issue of open source software in voting systems, Secretary McPherson is asking for public input, including but not limited to reports, studies, summaries and other written documentation relating to open source software in voting systems.

He is seeking a broad range of opinion and information because he recognizes that open source software is a complex and technical issue and it deserves a careful, balanced and in-depth study over time.

Secretary McPherson is convening a group of experts, representing a variety of viewpoints and expertise that will have regular meetings and hold public hearings if necessary. One of Secretary McPherson's top priorities is to ensure the security and integrity of the elections process and this group, along with public input, allows for a careful and thoughtful examination rather than a hasty superficial review.

Please submit your written materials no later than November 23, 2005 to:

Debbie O'Donoghue
Secretary of State Bruce McPherson
1500 – 11 th Street, 6 th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814

Thank you in advance for your input and assisting Secretary McPherson with this important issue aimed at investigating how to protect the integrity of voting systems and increase voter confidence in California elections.

Sincerely,
Debbie O'Donoghue
Assistant Secretary of State
odonoghu@ss.ca.gov

Attachment

Copyright ©2004 California Secretary of State. Privacy Statement

 

spacer