Voting Machines May Need to Be Replaced Soon 
 
By: Maeve Slavin    Voices News  10/12/2005 
  

SOUTHBURY - The Board of Selectmen's October 6 meeting heard from Registrars of Voters Joann Bolin and Catherine Bedard that under criteria of the Federal Help America Vote Act, signed into law in October, 2002, the town's lever voting machines have significant barriers that make them functionally obsolete.

Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz recently advised Registrars of Voters and Town Clerks that the Election Assistance Commission has issued an advisory opinion, three years after the fact, that, consequently, compliance with provisions of the act will be difficult, unlikely and costly.

Ms. Bysiewicz and Attorney General Richard Blumenthal are currently in discussion to clarify the situation. But the possibility exists that the town may be on the line for a very significant expense in the 2006-07 financial year if the most draconian reading of the act is enforced.

If the EAC opinion is binding, municipalities must replace all of their lever machines for the fall 2006 elections with electronic and handicapped-accessible equipment, according to Secretary Bysiewicz.

Calling it a heads-up on a "worst-case budget scenario," First Selectman Mark Cooper urged the registrars to consider a possibility that the town may be compelled to replace the existing 23 lever voting machines before the August, 2006 election primary season, and, accordingly, to keep it in mind when compiling their next year budget numbers.

Initially, HAVA requires that by August, 2006, each polling place must be equipped with at least one voting machine accessible to people with disabilities. Southbury would require five such machines.

Approximately $24 million in federal funding was provided to all 169 Connecticut municipalities for purchase of the electronic equipment to replace the levered machines.

As of early September, bids had not been reviewed by the state, so the question remains whether this amount will cover the costs including poll watcher training and public education.