Voting machines certified for Nov. 2

Electronic system should speed count

By JOHN MARTIN Courier & Press staff writer

September 23, 2004

The Indiana Election Commission has cleared the way for Vanderburgh County to use its touch-screen voting equipment in the Nov. 2 election.

The commission's action came less than a week after manufacturer Election Systems & Software of Omaha, Neb., learned that the voting equipment had passed tests conducted by independent testing laboratories. The testing is required to achieve certification. "This is a very important milestone for us. We are pleased to receive federal approval and the state's decision today," said Election Systems & Software Senior Vice President John Groh. "We're proud to partner with election officials in Indiana to achieve a common goal: delivering trouble-free elections and providing an open, accessible and secure elections process."

Vanderburgh County used the voting equipment for the first time in the May primary, but learned shortly before the election that the equipment did not have state certification. Vanderburgh and three other counties purchased the equipment, thinking the machines had the state's approval. The state granted a waiver to use the equipment in the May primary.

The state commission said no such waiver would be given for the general election and ordered Election Systems & Software to get the touch-screen equipment certified by Oct. 1.

Computerized voting has been controversial in some areas of the country, however, and there have been scattered reports of malfunctions, including equipment operated by Election Systems & Software.

Vanderburgh County resident Jennifer Kennedy told the county Election Board on Monday that she still has some concerns about the system, and she asked that the board do "whatever it takes to implement a voter-verifiable paper trail."