Key provisions of The Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2003 include:



1)      Requires all voting systems to produce a voter-verified paper record for use in manual audits and recounts.  For those using the increasingly popular ATM-like “DRE”(Direct Recording Electronic) machines, this requirement means the DRE would print a receipt that each voter would verify as accurate and deposit into a lockbox for later use in a recount.  States would have until November 2003 to request additional funds to meet this requirement.



2)      Bans the use of undisclosed software and wireless communications devices in voting systems.



3)      Requires all voting systems to meet these requirements in time for the general election in November 2004.  Jurisdictions that feel their new computer systems may not be able to meet this deadline may use an existing paper system as an interim measure (at federal expense) in the November 2004 election.



4)      Requires that electronic voting system be provided for persons with disabilities by January 1, 2006 -- one year earlier than currently required by HAVA.  Like the voting machines for non-disabled voters, those used by disabled voters must also provide a mechanism for voter-verification, though not necessarily a paper trail.  Jurisdictions unable to meet this requirement by the deadline must give disabled voters the option to use the interim paper system with the assistance of an aide of their choosing.



5)      Requires mandatory surprise recounts in 0.5% of domestic jurisdictions and 0.5% of overseas jurisdictions.