Coahoma County to get new voting machines
 
DAVID OWENS     Clarksdale Press-Register    July 18,2005

The Coahoma County Board of Supervisors has until Aug. 15 to agree to accept new voting machines which abide by federal laws.
The federal government passed the law almost four years ago, but the state of Mississippi only recently adopted which machine it will use.  
Each county will soon receive one Diebold Election Systems machine for every 190 registered voters.
The machines will first be used in Coahoma County next year when there are races for judges, school board and U.S. representative.
Last Friday, Circuit Clerk Charles Oakes attended a seminar in Jackson to get his first look at the machine.
"The counties have to sign for the new machines or buy their own at higher rates," Oakes told the Supervisors Wednesday.
The purchase will be fully funded by 95 percent federal funds appropriated under the "Help America Vote Act" and 5 percent state matching funds.
The county will not receive a 100 percent reimbursement if they do not agree to the contract signed by Secretary of State Eric Clark.
District 3 Supervisor Timothy Burrel voiced concerns that he felt all counties were getting pressured into the deal by the state.
"There's no reason to beat a dead horse here," he said. "We have to make a decision by Aug. 15, but it looks like the decisions is already made for us."
Burrel and Newson added additional concerns of ballot tampering with the equipment.
"I really didn't have a chance to study it so I can't report about its safety," Oakes answered.
However, Oakes said he thought the new machines were secure.
Board president Katherine Furr had her own reservations due to the technology used with the machines.
"Some people have never had a computer," she said. "When they find out they have to use one, they are not going to vote."
District 2 Supervisor Chris Overton said the county would provide training places before the next election.
In other news, the board reiterated its culvert policy following hearing a complaint from Ed Wiggins in Durant.
Wiggins said the sewers had a drainage problem causing water to back up into his and neighbors' yards.
Coahoma County Road Manager William Kinard said some work needed to be done in the area.
"The state ditches get higher and need to be ped down to the main bridge," he said. "The Levee Board came and wiped it out, but some farmers are using 12" culverts to restrain water."
Overton said the smallest allowed in the county were 15" culverts because the Road Dept. did not have machinery to clean out 12" culverts.
The board also gave a resolution to Myltree Adams for her help in obtaining financing for a levee in the Eastpark Subdivision.
District 1 Supervisor Paul Pearson called Adams "the heart and soul that goes into Coahoma."