wfn.org | ELCA Assembly Receives Explanation on Electronic Voting Error

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 11, 2001

ELCA ASSEMBLY RECEIVES EXPLANATION ON ELECTRONIC VOTING ERROR
01-CWA31-MR

     INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Voting members of the 2001 Churchwide
Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) received
an explanation about an error that occurred with the electronic voting
machines being used to conduct an election for a presiding bishop for
the ELCA.
     The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the
church, is meeting here Aug. 8-14 at the Indiana Convention Center.
There are more than 2,000 people participating including 1,040 ELCA
voting members.  The theme for the biennial assembly is "Making Christ
Known: Sharing Faith in a New Century."
     On Aug. 10, an initial vote by voting members on the fourth ballot
was nullified because of an error with the voting equipment.  Voting
members voted a second time in the same plenary session.
     The first two ballots were "paper ballots," said Phillip H.
Harris, ELCA general counsel.  He told the assembly that he thought his
"job would be made easy" by the electronic voting system used to
electronically collect votes and display results of the third, fourth
and fifth ballot.  "But, that dream was shattered at 3 p.m. yesterday,"
Harris told the assembly.
     He said the electronic voting machines -- which provide voting
results instantly -- are operated by an outside organization called
SWANK.  "SWANK technicians are the only ones with access to the
computers," Harris said.
     The error appeared on the results screen following the fourth
ballot.  "Results showed that one [of the three remaining nominees for
ELCA presiding bishop] received no votes.  The [voting machines] had not
been reprogrammed after the third ballot," Harris said.
     "The computers create backup data files based on what keys were
pushed by voting members.  Technicians spent one hour to secure the
[machines] for the next ballot, which took place at 4:30 p.m.," he said.
     Harris delivered the corrected results of the fourth ballot:
     + The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, bishop of the ELCA Saint Paul Area
Synod, St. Paul, Minn., is the leading nominee with 448 votes;
     + The Rev. Donald J. McCoid, bishop of the ELCA Southwestern
Pennsylvania Synod, Pittsburgh, is second with 362 votes;
     + The Rev. James A. Nestingen, professor of church history, Luther
Seminary, St. Paul, received 225 votes.  Nestingen was eliminated from
consideration.
     After Harris' report, Nestingen expressed to the assembly is
"gratitude" to the assembly, Harris and SWANK technicians, and said he
accepted the voting results.  "I am happy as a clam to go back to the
classroom," he said.
     The fifth and final ballot for election of presiding bishop of the
ELCA is Aug. 11.
- - -
     Information about assembly actions is at
http://www.elca.org/assembly/01 on the ELCA's Web site.  Recorded
updates during the assembly are available by calling 773/38-02477.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html