May 12, 2006

"Voting machines lack state approval"

"Brand-new touch-screen voting machines can't be used in Volusia, Polk and three other Florida counties because they still require state approval, officials said Thursday.

The problem, uncovered by an election official in Volusia County, apparently violates a state law prohibiting vendors from selling "uncertified" equipment in Florida, according to Susan Pynchon, a voting-equipment activist.

Not so, said Jenny Nash, a spokeswoman for the state Division of Elections, who said the machines from Diebold Election Systems are nearly the same as those already certified.

"It's just a modification," Nash said. She compared it to a routine software update on a home computer. "It's very similar to that."

Nash said a routine examination of the new machine is set for May 30 and June 1 in Tallahassee. Because no elections are planned before those dates, it's not a problem, she said.

Nonetheless, Pynchon, executive director of DeLand-based Florida Fair Elections Coalition, said her organization is contemplating "legal options" because she thinks the state approval should have been completed before delivery.

Nash said the issue affects five counties: Volusia, Polk, Leon, Putnam and Glades.

County election officials contacted Thursday said they were surprised to learn they had received machines that still needed to jump through another hoop at the state level.

Volusia County Elections Supervisor Ann McFall and Polk County Elections Supervisor Lori Edwards said the machines they told Diebold they wanted were certified.

"It's just what arrived was not [certified]," Edwards said.

A Diebold official contacted Thursday referred questions to a company spokesman, who did not return voice-mail and e-mail messages."

The story is here.

Posted by Randy Riddle at May 12, 2006 10:48 AM