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Lawmakers Search For Answers After Election Theft

Commission Has No Say About Who Secures Building

POSTED: 4:51 pm CST January 16, 2008
UPDATED: 6:19 pm CST January 16, 2008

State lawmakers from Davidson County wanted answers about the December Metro Election office break-in and criticized the commission for not doing enough to keep voters' personal information out of the wrong hands.

Video: Lawmakers Search For Changes Following Election Theft

Davidson County lawmakers appoint Metro Election Commission members.

On Wednesday, those lawmakers wanted more than an explanation about the break-in that left 337,000 voters personal information at risk. They wanted some changes to guarantee this would not happen again.

"We can get rid of the board if this repeats itself to be honest with you," said Rep. Mike Turner of Old Hickory.

Metro Elections Administrator Ray Barrett told lawmakers that while the office has taken steps to secure the office, they have no say about who secures the building.

Turner wants to find out if Wackenhut provides security to state buildings.

"They obviously dropped the ball with you guys, and I'm going to ask the governor first if we have Wackenhut contracts and then ask the governor to audit them to make sure we're not paying someone to be there that's not there," said Turner.

However, Metro Councilman Robert Duvall is already urging lawmakers to change the law and require government agencies to have security to keep your personal information safe.

He said if it happened in Nashville, it could happen to any other government agency in the state.

"If they mandate that a certain amount of security has to be or certain steps have to be followed and mandate that by law then we will have a more secure election commission throughout the state," said Duvall.

One lawmaker asked for a list of proposed changes that the election commission will make to secure personal information.

He said once he sees that list, he will decide whether or not to propose any new laws stemming from this incident.

Some of the lawmakers said they are getting more calls and e-mails about the break-in than any other issue in front of them.


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