Posted on 01/13/2004 10:09:57 PM PST by calcowgirl
Solano County voters may be using a pencil or pen to fill in circles for the March primary instead of new touch-screen technology, if a state voting systems panel decides this week to block use of the machines.
Today, the Solano County Board of Supervisors is set to discuss the pending certification of the touch-screen voting machines. Registrar of Voters Laura Winslow says in a report to the supervisors that the new technology "continues to be good system for Solano County."
Some board members and community members - including a nonprofit activist group, Community Labor Alliance - are skeptical about the new machines. They have recently raised concerns about the state's certification process and the security of voting with the new technology.
"We live in a world of corporate fraud, and the corporation (Diebold) will own the (election) software," said Supervisor Barbara Kondylis, District 1-Vallejo.
In December 2002, supervisors approved entering into a $4 million contract with Diebold for the company's most up-to-date touch-screen voting machines. State and federal assistance reduced the county's burden to about $833,000.
Kondylis said she's troubled by reports that, among other things, Diebold switched its software in Georgia at the last minute, using uncertified software in that election.
"I have no idea" what the California Secretary of State's Office is going to do about using the machines, Kondylis said.
Spokesman Doug Stone of that office had nothing to say about what the panel may decide Thursday.
In a report to the board, Winslow says the hardware and software the county bought has been approved.
Secretary of State Kevin Shelley asked Diebold to abide by three conditions as a means of possibly receiving certification of its new equipment.
Those conditions include Diebold paying for an audit-inventory of voting equipment and software, "that Diebold agree to cooperate in that audit/inventory" and that Diebold officials participate in a Dec. 16 voting panel hearing when the panel reviews the findings of the audit.
According to Winslow's report, "Diebold paid for $75,000 to conduct the audit, cooperated with the audit and attended the Dec. 16 voting hearing." At that hearing, state voting panel members reportedly said they needed more time to review the proposal, and rescheduled certification.
If the panel votes against certification, county registrar officials say they are preparing to use optical scan ballots, which are similar to school testing methods requiring the appropriate circle be filled in.
The optical scan method has been certified, the staff report says.
A switch to optical scan ballots could cost the county about $145,150 in added staff, printing and voting booth modifications, which aren't in the department's budget, it says.
The staff report says the error rate for optical scan ballots is higher than for touch-screen voting. Counting of optical scan ballots is "significantly slower" than counting decertified punch-card ballots, the report also said, and final election results wouldn't be expected until the morning after the March 2 election.
- E-mail Greg Moberly at GMoberly@thnewsnet.com or call 553-6833.
Another subject... just came across this if any of the environment folks are interested:
Supreme Court Calendar
Wednesday, January 14, 2004The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments starting at 10 a.m. today in the following cases:
Engine Mfrs. Assoc. v. South Coast Air Quality, No. 02-1343.
Can Southern California require public and private vehicle fleets to meet certain emissions standards? (One hour.)
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