Hamilton Co. resists vote system
Ohio Secretary State requires it, but locals prefer electronic system

By Cindi Andrews
Cincinnati Enquirer staff writer  02 February 2005

Hamilton County may ask the Ohio Attorney General's Office whether county elections officials have to a new voting system, as ordered last month by Secretary of State Ken Blackwell.

At stake is whether Hamilton County residents and other Ohioans will vote on optical-scan systems - in which voters use pencils to fill in the ovals next to their choices - or ATM-like electronic voting machines. Congress has required that punch-card ballots be phased out by 2006 and has given Ohio $132 million for new equipment.

Blackwell announced in January that all 88 Ohio counties must choose optical-scan voting systems by Feb. 9. The move was a 180-degree change from 2004, when Blackwell gave counties a choice of three electronic voting systems and two optical-scan systems.

Most counties, including Hamilton, Butler and Warren, went with electronic systems. However, plans to buy new systems statewide came to an abrupt halt in mid-2004 when Ohio's General Assembly required a voter-verifiable paper trail.

Optical scan became the only practical option because it uses paper ballots, Blackwell said. However, Hamilton County Election Director John Williams said he's concerned that optical-scan ballots can't be printed by his staff, which translates into higher paper costs and less flexibility for last-minute changes.

"I don't like to have somebody making a choice for this county," Williams said.

Michael Barrett, vice chairman of the Hamilton County Board of Elections, sent Williams a letter last week asking the county prosecutor's office to ask Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro if Blackwell can make Hamilton and other counties switch to optical scan.

Petro's office has not yet gotten the request, a spokesman said late Tuesday.

Blackwell originally picked Texas-based Hart InterCivic for Hamilton County, based on the county staff's preference, after its board deadlocked, spokesman Carlo LoParo said Tuesday.

Blackwell's decision ruling out electronic voting machines cost Hart InterCivic millions because it does not have an optical-scan system approved for use in Ohio. Counties must choose between optical-scan systems made by Diebold Elections Systems and ES&S.

Butler County's Board of Elections is scheduled to meet Friday to an optical-scan system, and Warren County's board is expected to decide Tuesday, according to election officials in those counties.

If Hamilton County refuses to choose, LoParo said, Blackwell will again make the choice.