Miami County, Ohio, Nears Decision on Voting System

By Nancy Bowman, Dayton Daily News, Ohio Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Mar. 23TROY, Ohio - State Sen. Tom Roberts gained insight on Monday into the intricacies of Miami County's optical scanning election system, which currently tallies votes for the county. Election board members, in turn, got a taste of some of the discussion that will surround the board's upcoming decision on how county voters will cast their ballots.

If an electronic voting system using touch screen machines is ed by the board by a June 1 deadline, it wouldn't be in use for November's presidential election, elections Director Steve Quillen said.

Roberts, D-Trotwood, is a member of a joint legislative committee studying concerns of security risks of electronic voting machines being purchased or considered for purchase by counties using federal money for election reforms in the Help America Vote Act.

Roberts said his concerns lie with ensuring the electronic voting is accessible to all interested, and there is adequate paper back-up. "My issue has never been honesty of poll workers. It's the technology," he said.

Roger Luring, elections board chairman, said a committee will be appointed Thursday to recommend the best system for the county. "We have a lot of work to do," he said.

Quillen estimates electronic voting equipment would cost $1.2 million to $1.4 million for the county's 67,675 registered voters. He said electronic voting would cut down on costs by eliminating paper ballots and problems counting ballots on rainy days when moisture affects the paper.

If the county would continue with the current system, it would have to be d. "Money is going to be spent, no matter what," Quillen said.

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