Shelley recertifies electronic voting in Shasta, Tehama counties

Associated Press

SACRAMENTO - Secretary of State Kevin Shelley recertified electronic voting systems in Shasta and Tehama counties Tuesday, bringing to five the number of counties allowed to use touch-screen voting in the Nov. 2 election.

Earlier this month, Shelley recertified voting systems in Santa Clara, Merced and Orange counties.

Shelley said the five counties agreed to new security conditions to use their machines in the November presidential election, including making paper ballots available to those who want to use them. The counties also agreed to share their computer source code with independent experts for analysis and undertake a new program of poll worker training on electronic voting machines.

On April 30, Shelley decertified 28,000 touch screen voting machines in 10 counties until they meet specific conditions to prevent numerous problems that occurred in the March primary. Several counties reported software glitches that caused people to vote the wrong ballots and polls to open late, prompting many voters to leave.

Shelley also banned 14,000 electronic voting machines in San Diego, Solano, San Joaquin and Kern counties in November because their machines weren't federally approved for the March election. There, approximately 2 million voters will have to use paper ballots.

Counties still waiting approval include Riverside, San Bernardino, Plumas, Alameda and Napa.