Voting machines face challenge (South Carolina)

[phoebe]

I'm sure some of you are already well aware of this but in my humble opinion this has become a much bigger issue. Slowly but surely states/counties are realizing that they are having to come up with large amounts of money in order to come into compliance with HAVA. Cuts are having to be made, in some cases, over vital services such as police, fire, cuts in poll workers, polling places, (which is in itself a major issue) etc. and states are already reeling from budget shortfalls, the like of which haven't been seen in decades. My feeling is that this side of the BBV issue needs to be pushed harder. I say, let the voting machine companies spell out why their "goods and services" are so expensive. These companies are now having to offer leasing and set-up "deals" to states and counties to counterattack those officials who are becoming aware of this issue..your thoughts??

snip

Beaufort County officials are exploring if the county can mount a legal challenge to a state plan that would replace the county's voting machines without using a dime of local tax money.

Although federal dollars will pay for all counties to receive new touch-screen voting machines by 2006, local officials say an agreement with the company they purchased 81 voting machines from in 2000 entitles them to a $500,000 refund when that equipment is upgraded.

But since the new machines will be supplied by a single vendor, selected by the S.C. Election Commission, the county won't receive its $500,000 refund if the state-selected vendor is different from the county's, count officials have said.

On Monday, the council's Finance Committee asked county staff attorney Kelly Golden to discuss the situation with state officials before determining whether the county could challenge the state's decision.


http://www.beaufortgazette.com/local_news/briefs/story/2949428p-2706559c.html

[Zan_of_Texas]

1. $ to pay for these POS is a side issue, IMO

The issue is, do we have honestly, transparently, replicatible, checkable vote counting. Does every qualified citizen get to cast their vote. In private.

Adding computers and right-wing computer voting companies and $4 billion in federal HAVA funds (which haven't been actually funded yet, I don't think) does not accomplish that.

Pen and paper, counted in each precinct by citizens, does. Quickly, efficiently, and in a manner that we can see is accurate and CAN CHECK.

We need to hammer that home.

[shance]

2. You're right. This is important. One more reason not to entertain these

Trojan horses.

All these reasons are important, and add to the growing case that these things are cryptonite to Democracy.

(where in the world did I come up with 'cryptonite' today?......)

[ParanoidPat]

3. Beaufort uses 'Optical Scan' equipment.....

....according to the South Carolina State Election Commission's VOTING SYSTEMS USED page.

Vote Recorder (punch cards)

The voter receives a card with approximately 200 squares containing a perforated area, or punch, within each square. This card is inserted into a prepared vote recorder which contains printed pages of offices and issues to be voted. The offices and issues are automatically aligned with the squares on the punch card. The voter uses a punch device to punch through the square on the card beside the candidate or issue of his/her choice.

The counties that use Vote Recorder/ Punch Card:
Aiken, Greenville, Sumter,
Anderson, Kershaw, York,
Cherokee, Lexington,
Florence, Oconee

Optical Scan (Excluding Orangeburg)

The voter receives an 8" x 14" paper ballot. The voter shades in a block beside the name of the party, candidate or issue in which he/she wishes to vote using a marking pen or pencil.

The counties that use Optical Scan:

Abbeville, Clarendon, Orangeburg,
Beaufort, Laurens, Saluda,
Calhoun, Lee Union,
Chesterfield, McCormick, Williamsburg,
(see below)

Optical Scan (Orangeburg County Only)

The voter receives a ballot containing offices and issues to be voted. Located next to the name of the candidate is the head and tail of an arrow pointing to the name of a candidate, or "yes" or "no" in the case of referenda questions. To make a selection, the voter uses a marker or pencil to connect the head and tail of the arrow.

Electronic

The voter makes his/her selections by pressing a button beside a party, candidate or issue displayed on the direct recording electronic (DRE) voting machine. After all selections have been made, the voter presses a VOTE button to cast his/her ballot.

The counties that use Electronic:

Allendale, Colleton, Georgetown, Marion,
Bamberg, Darlington, Greenwood, Marlboro,
Barnwell, Dillon, Hampton, Newberry,
Berkeley, Dorchester, Horry Pickens,
Charleston, Edgefield, Jasper, Richland,
Chester, Fairfield, Lancaster, Spartanburg