Voting machine choice recalled
By DIANE ERWIN, News-Sun Staff Writer

Clark and Champaign counties' Boards of Elections must choose new electronic voting machines after the company they ed withdrew from contract negotiations with the secretary of state's office.

Sequoia Voting Systems did not meet final contract terms and voluntarily withdrew, said Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell.

The elections boards now must choose a machine from one of three companies under contract: Diebold Election Systems, Maximus/Hart Intercivic/DFM Associates and Election Systems and Software.

The Clark County board will probably choose a system in April, said Linda Rosicka, director. "Right now, our concentrated efforts are taking care of the presidential primary election" March 2, she said.

Rosicka said the state has not given her a deadline, but she doesn't anticipate a rush. The county probably will not use the machines before the May 2005 primary election.

Champaign County will also choose a new provider after the primary, said Director Robin Burden. Darke and Licking counties also ed Sequoia.

Clark County elections board member Dan Harkins was frustrated by the state's inability to reach a contract with Sequoia.

"If we weren't going to be given a choice, why did we go through this charade?" said Harkins, also the chairman of the county's Republican Party.

The board spent more than a year researching and testing machines, Harkins said. He preferred Sequoia because there were no concerns about the security of the system.

"You want people to have confidence in the equipment they're using," Harkins said. "If they lack confidence, they're not going to vote and take part in the process."

The system came out tops on many features the board members looked at, such as service, maintenance and public opinion, said David Farrell, chairman of the Clark County board and the county's Democratic Party.

Residents could test and comment on four machines, including one from Sequoia, at the Clark County Fair.

"Obviously it's back to the drawing board," Farrell said.

Three electronic voting machines or one optical scan machine will be needed at each of the state's 11,434 precincts, Blackwell said. Clark County has 100 precincts. The machines will be paid for in federal funds.