A public hearing on the certification of several electronic voting machines drew opponents like Dan Ashby of the California Election Protection Network:

“Your vote could be discarded – your vote could be re-assigned, changed from what you intended and you would have no way of knowing.”

Ashby says electronic machines aren’t transparent enough, and are vulnerable to hackers.  He’d prefer hand-counted paper ballots.  But to comply with Help America Vote Act requirements, counties must have machines accessible to the disabled.  And Contra Costa County Registrar of Voters Steve Weir says they’re running out of time:

“We’re 37 days away from having to have federal ballots available – we’re 68 days – just over two months – from when voting actually starts.”

Secretary of State Bruce McPherson recently certified the controversial machines made by Diebold.  A spokesperson with his office says the Secretary has established the most stringent voting system requirements in the nation.