Voting machines: Elections officer doesn't want to write a blank check
Wants state to provide a scanner for the backup paper receipts

By Glen Warchol
The Salt Lake Tribune  

 
  
Recent Coverage 
New snag for voting machines, (8-19-05)

Lobbyist challenged on voting machines, (8-14-05)

Are new voting devices flawed?, (7-30-05)

For S.L. County, "democracy just got a lot more expensive,' (7-13-05)

  
  
The Salt Lake County Council on Tuesday supported the state's decision to buy electronic voting machines but has asked for amendments to the contract to financially shield the county in the event of a recount.
   The county's decision follows a series of controversies over the machines, developed by Diebold Election Systems, which have been challenged over their dependability and the validity of their backup paper receipts in election recounts.
   County Clerk Sherrie Swensen's staff proposed an amendment to the contract promising that the lieutenant governor's office would "provide assistance to [the] county to the extent necessary to timely complete any recount requested. . . . "
   Swensen also wants the state, which will spend $27 million in federal funds for voting machines, to buy an electronic scanner for the paper receipts to be lent to counties forced to undertake recounts.
   But Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert, the state's chief elections officer, is wary of entering into such formal agreements with the counties, said Chief of Staff Joe Demma.
   "We were a little concerned [with the proposed changes]. The lieutenant governor's office doesn't have the resources to 'provide assistance to the extent necessary,' " Demma said. "It would essentially be a blank check."
   Nor will Herbert commit in writing to purchasing the scanners, Demma said, although the office likely will provide recount scanners to the counties. Herbert will meet with Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon and Swensen to propose a "gentlemen's agreement," instead of changing the contract, Demma said.
   The Diebold machines failed a July test in California suffering two screen freezes and 10 backup-printer jams. California Secretary of State Bruce McPherson also has questioned the legitimacy of the machines' backup count because the paper tape probably fails to meet many states' definitions of an official ballot.
   Swensen is concerned that recounting the electronic machines' paper receipts would be laborious, error-prone and expensive.
   Diebold has promised to fix the problems with the printers and to develop a paper-backup receipt scanner before the voting machines are used.
   State election officials nationwide are searching for voting devices that will satisfy the requirements of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, a federal mandate.