High-tech voting may not be ready
If touch-screens aren't certified, paper ballots may be used in November.

By Jason Thomas for the Indianapolis Star
August 11, 2004
At least one member of the Johnson County Election Board has lost faith that touch-screen voting machines will be ready by an Aug. 20 deadline.

Election Systems & Software has until that date to certify the machines before election officials scrap the $2.4 million investment in favor of paper ballots and optical scan machines for the Nov. 2 general election.

"I don't think it will be met," Jean Harmon, board chairwoman, said after a Monday meeting with ES&S officials. "I think we'll use the (paper ballots)."

A motion was unanimously passed during the election board's Aug. 3 meeting in which the board requested paper ballots, should software for the touch-screen machines not be certified by Aug. 20.

Company officials agreed to the terms of the motion during Monday's meeting, adding that they would provide regular s to the board.

In a letter submitted Monday, ES&S agreed to provide the optical scan technology which is certified if the deadline is not met.

The Indiana Election Commission has yet to certify the touch screen voting system for the general election.

Harmon praised Johnson County Clerk of the Courts Jill Jackson for setting the Aug. 20 deadline, thereby ensuring a plan will be in place for the general election.

"We wanted paper ballots because none of this is certified," Harmon said of the touch-screen software.

Jackson expressed relief that ES&S officials heeded the board's request. "I'm pleased that they are agreeable to our request," she said.

The board will meet at 10 a.m. Aug. 26 to finalize plan