Reply #10: IN: Election Panel OKs Voting Machines

[livvy]

April 29, 2006

Election panel OKs voting machines
Thousands no longer face prospect of paper ballots; possible violations by 2nd firm found

By Mary Beth Schneider
[email protected]

Thousands of voters across Indiana will vote in Tuesday's primary election by machine rather than paper, following an Indiana Election Commission decision Friday to certify equipment by Indianapolis-based MicroVote General Corp.

Also Friday, Secretary of State Todd Rokita said a preliminary investigation has found 30 potential violations of Indiana law by a second voting company, Election Systems & Software.

He will have a hearing at 9 a.m. May 8 in his Statehouse office on those issues, which mostly involved ballot printing, delivery and readability problems in Marion, Johnson and St. Joseph counties.

ES&S issued a statement saying the company "will vigorously defend" itself against the allegations.
"It is unfortunate that our company and county election officials may now have an additional distraction that will divert attention from the task at hand -- preparing for election day," the Nebraska-based company said.

Rokita also is investigating MicroVote and can fine the company up to $300,000 per violation.

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http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060429/NEWS02/604290465/1006/NEWS01