Committee recommends electronic-voting machine
By:Ed Lewis The Citizens Voice 12/01/2005
WILKES-BARRE - Time is running out for Luzerne County commissioners to purchase a new electronic voting machine that must be in place for the May 16 primary election.
The Electronic Voting Machine Committee on Wednesday recommended a full-face recording electronic voting system manufactured by Danaher.
At a cost of $5,500 each in addition to a $1,500 attachment for paper receipts, commissioners are expected to need approximately 500 machines.
The county is receiving nearly $3 million in state funding to offset the cost. "Since we're already behind the eight-ball, we're going to have to make a decision soon," Commissioner Todd Vonderheid said.
The committee debated between two machines with the other being a similar machine manufactured by Sequoia.
But delays by Sequoia to get their machine certified by the Pennsylvania Department of State was the deciding factor by a majority on the five-member committee.
Danaher received state certification Nov. 15. Sequoia is scheduled to present its machine to state officials on Dec. 13.
Committee member Robert Caruso wanted to wait until Sequoia's machine was state certified. "I see no reason to rush into this," he said. "Democracy is the most important business in this world and price should not be considered."
Committee chairwoman Mary Ann Petrilla said Sequoia's machine cost $7,700 each plus a $1,200 attachment for the paper receipt.
Petrilla and committee members Kevin Greenburg, Doris Merrell and Anthony Brooks said price was not being considered while debating which machine to recommend.
The only significant difference between the two machines relates to how a write-in vote is cast.
On the Danaher machine, a voter would push a button to open a door where a write-in candidate's name would be written. The Sequoia's machine uses a keypad for write-in candidates.
"Danaher's machine would be the best machine for this county," Greenburg said. 'Not because of price, but for its ease."
