S.L. County Council reluctantly approves new voting machines
By Erin Stewart
Deseret Morning News   08 September 2005

      Salt Lake County leaders voted to support the state's choice of electronic voting machines Tuesday in a decision several County Council members described as a "leap of faith."
      "To a certain degree, we've got a gun to our heads while we're making this leap of faith," Councilwoman Jenny Wilson said.
      The 7-1 vote by the council came after several members said they felt trapped between honoring the state's decision to use Diebold electronic voting machines and saving taxpayers the extra cost of implementing the new system.
      Although the state will put up $9 million to buy more than 2,000 machines, Mayor Peter Corroon is expecting anywhere from $5 million to $20 million in extra costs for training, buying more machines and leasing storage space. That bill, he said, will be left to the county and could result in a tax increase.
      "We do have our eyes open and realize we have a challenge ahead. It is unproven technology," Corroon said.
      Councilman Jim Bradley, who cast the lone dissenting vote, said he had to vote against the state's choice simply to show on record the "discomfort of the council in this move."
      Joe Hatch noted that although the council voted to adopt the state's system, he expects the state to take full responsibility if the Diebold system fails or delivers an inaccurate election. Hatch said he was particularly disappointed the state presented the Diebold plan as the only option to meet federal mandates in the Help America Vote Act.
      The 2002 act requires each county to implement a voting system that will allow equal access to disabled voters while also allowing all voters to verify their ions, correct errors and be notified of votes for more than one candidate ? and do all that privately and independently.
      After questioning Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert, Hatch said it was "absolutely mind-boggling" to learn state officials decided the current punch-card system doesn't meet the federal requirements without first getting a legal opinion.
      "Philosophically, I really dislike the state imposing on us a system," Hatch said. "I'm going to assume there may be an enormous amount of problems with this, and if so, I will blame the lieutenant governor for leading us down a path that we asked them about and they said, 'trust us.' "
      Herbert reassured council members, saying his "political neck is on the line" with the Diebold system, but that he is confident it will deliver a clean election. Herbert pointed out the state also was in a tight spot in trying to comply with the federal requirements.
      "We've tried to take a bushel of lemons and make lemonade. We're not going to be able to get there, but we hope to make it at least palatable so you can choke it down without scrunching up your face too badly," Herbert said.
      Herbert also said the punch-card system could be continued with modifications, such as adding optical scanners to each precinct to verify results and adding an expansive education program. But he said the punch-card system is quickly becoming outdated and likely will be replaced within several years.
      "If the punch-card system is going the way of the dinosaur, why would you want to pursue it?" he said. "This is a better way to vote. Once the public understands what's happening here, they'll say, 'We won't settle for punch cards.' "