County hires election help
By JASON MICHAEL WHITE
Daily Journal staff writer
jwhite@thejournalnet.com

March 23, 2004

A project manager fired from Election Systems & Software is being hired by the county as a consultant for May’s primary election.

Doug Orange will act as an adviser and supervisor for Johnson County Clerk Jill Jackson and will sign an affidavit saying he won’t touch election equipment or interfere with the election.

The county commissioners unanimously approved hiring Orange. He will be paid $13.50 an hour for 37½ hours a week, or $506.25 per week, and will work for 22 weeks.

Voting machines that Election Systems & Software installed last year in Johnson and other Indiana counties were uncertified by the state, which the Indiana Election Commission discovered only after the 456 touchscreens were used in November’s general election.

State officials ruled two weeks ago that Johnson County can use the same electronic voting system in the May primary. But because some of the software still has not been certified, Election Systems & Software was ordered to post a $10 million bond for use in the event of malfunctions or legal challenges.

The May primary will be Jackson’s first time overseeing an election.

Election Systems & Software in early March fired Orange, who was serving as the county’s local project manager. The reason for his firing was not disclosed.