Blackwell sets deadline for ing machines

By Advocate Staff Report

COLUMBUS Ohio Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell has told some county elections officials they have until Tuesday to new voting machines or he will do it for them.

His ultimatum raised the ire of some state lawmakers who have been conducting hearings on the security of electronic voting. Federal law requires the switch from outdated punch-card machines.

The Licking County Board of Elections is not in the pool which must meet the Tuesday deadline, Director Mary Jo Long said.

The board chose an electronic voting system by the state's Jan. 15 deadline, Long said. However, the vendor the board chose, Sequoia, did not sign a contract with the state allowing counties to buy the machines, she explained.

"It has put us back to square one. And with the March election and two brand new board members, we have some work cut out for us," Long said.

Licking County's deadline to choose an electronic voting system will come later this year, Long said.

Montgomery County Board of Elections Director Christopher Heizer said his board has been awaiting results of the ballot-security committee's review before ing voting equipment.

The board expected a final staff recommendation Thursday and could vote by next week.

'We're waiting to make sure all the security risks that have been found by the secretary of state have been fixed and certified," he said.

Blackwell also sent notices to Clinton, Hamilton, Highland and Preble. Later Wednesday, Preble County officials made a choice.

Rep. Peter Ujvagi, a Toledo Democrat, said the Legislature should hold a special session this month to block Blackwell if he insists on forging ahead.

It was lawmakers who granted the secretary of state authority to issue opinions and rulings to county boards of elections that carry the weight of law, Blackwell spokesman Carlo LoParo said.

"The secretary is operating under his statutory authority as the state's chief elections officer," he said.

Blackwell has asked the legislative Controlling Board to approve the purchase of more than $122 million in voting equipment at its April 5 meeting.

The panel is holding up the request while they conduct the hearings.