State makes plans for new voting machines

By Eric Stringfellow    The Clarion-Ledger    30 June 2005
Secretary of State Eric Clark sounded like he'd just hit the jackpot.

"Do you have all afternoon? I can talk about this stuff for hours," Clark said in response to a question about the connection between new voting machines and accurate voter registration rolls.

Clark announced Wednesday that the state plans to spend $15 million to purchase 5,164 touch-screen machines from Diebold Election Systems Inc.

Diebold was ed by a committee led by Clark that included local election officials and state Department of Information Technology representatives.

The package includes training, maintenance, voter education and five years of technical support.

The machines will help make the state compliant with the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), which mandates that all lever machines, punch cards and central scanner machines be replaced by Jan. 1. "This is a great move forward for Mississippi," Clark said.

Others, however, are skeptical.

Integrity questioned

Diebold, an Ohio company, is also providing voting machines in Georgia, Maryland, Alaska and Utah. Only five of Mississippi's 82 counties currently are compliant with HAVA, including Hinds and Rankin counties.

Counties can acquire the touch-screen machines at no cost if they get Diebold machines through Clark.

There are, however, concerns about the company's credibility, based on a 2003 statement from its chief executive, and security questions about its technology.

"It's unfortunate that we decided to go use a company with such a cloud around its integrity," said Derrick Johnson, state NAACP president.

Walden W. O'Dell, Diebold Inc.'s chief executive, in a 2003 campaign solicitation for President Bush, wrote he was "committed to helping Ohio deliver its electoral votes to the president."

David K. Bear, a Diebold spokesman, said after O'Dell's statement the company adopted a policy prohibiting officers involved in its election division from being involved in politics.

Clark trusts Diebold

A 2003 article in The New York Times cited two reports that raised questions about the reliability and safety of paper-free voting machines.

Rep. Rush D. Holt, D-N.J., is pushing legislation to require computerized voting systems to produce a voter verified paper ballot, according to the Nov. 9, 2003, news story.

"There has never been a proven security issue," Bear said. "There have been only allegations."

Clark said he hopes to use some election-reform funds to add printers to allow paper verification."

I am certain the machines are secure, but the printout will make people feel more comfortable," Clark said.

Said Johnson: "If they know this is an issue, why wait? There are existing systems that offer technology to give paper verification."

Clark said he believes in Diebold, pointing out the company makes 90 percent of the state's automated teller machines. "This company has accurately and securely kept up with Mississippians' money for years. They will do just as well keeping up with our votes."

Let's hope he's right.