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1. Name: Ellen Theisen, M.A.  
2. Title: CEO of The Vote-PAD Company

3. Voting Machines
Position:		 Con to the question "Do electronic voting machines improve the voting process?"
4. Reasoning:

"Errors and malfunctions are inescapable with electronic election equipment, just as they are with any other type of mechanical or electronic device. Failures of paperless Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) systems almost always leave unanswered questions." (Myth Breakers: Facts About Electronic Elections, 2005, available at the Voters Unite! website)

5. Credibility
Ranking:		  Experts
Election officials, people with post-graduate degrees in a computer science, J.D.s, Members of Congress, or elected officials with significant involvement in, or related to, electronic voting machine

6. Involvement:
  • 2005-current - CEO, The Vote-PAD Company
  • 1983-current - Software technical writer
  • 2004-2005 - Founder and Executive Director, Voters Unite!
  • 2003-2004 - Staff of VerifiedVoting.org
7. Education:
  • M.A., Religious Studies, Arizona State University
  • B.A., Mathematics, University of Colorado, Boulder
8. Relevant Affiliations/Honors:
  • None listed
9. Contact Info:
Phone: Not listed Fax: Not listed
E-Mail: ellen@vote-pad.us
Web Site: www.vote-pad.us
10. Other:
  • Myth Breakers: Facts About Electronic Elections, available at www.votersunite.org, 2005
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