Touch-screen voting machines a go

[BeFree]

Congress passed the Help America Vote Act in 2002, mandating the replacement of punch card or levered machines. The legislation was developed after the voting controversy in Florida during the 2000 presidential election.

"If we had our choice, we'd stay with the lever machines for eternity," said Commissioner Chairman Tom Balya. "They're low maintenance and they've lasted for 45 years."

Almost $3 million in federal grants is being used to purchase equipment and cover administrative costs for the switch. Pedicone said the county was required to pass a resolution by Dec. 31 saying that the county would use the money, but the commissioners decided to also select a company.

County officials, concerned about a possible a learning curve for poll workers and voters alike, said they want to ensure the touch-screen voting machines are delivered well before the spring 2006 primary.

http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/trib/westmoreland/s_408767.html

[IndyOp]

1. Pending legislation would require VVPB's

"...the machines selected do not have the ability to produce verified paper records to be used in recounts. Pending legislation in Harrisburg would require such records."

VVPB - Voter verified paper ballots...

:hi:

[bemildred]

2. How can Congress mandate state voting procedures?

Anybody know?

[aquart]

4. Well, if they're crooked enough...and they are...

They can lock the nation into Republican controlled machines that vote Republican.

Handy dandy, ain't it?

The beauty part is they won't be able to do it for long, because there won't be a United States left in a very short time.

[superconnected]

6. Well they've already tested the system and it works.

I expect the US not to last long now.

[BeFree]

5. One way that I know of...

Congress has the power to demand how Federal candidates are elected. I don't know the particulars, but it seems congress has declared that lever and punch card machines can't be used to elect the president or congresscritters.

I am with Aquart, levers were fine and dandy... many a democrat was elected by use of levers. Of course, levers could hardly be manipulated on a large scale, certainly not like the paperless, secretly coded, privately owned, super expensive touchscreens. But then, those secret machines do get republicans elected quite often, now, don't it?

Could that be why?

[Toots]

11. They can mandate how money is spent that they give the state.

The state could of course refuse the money..:shrug:

[aquart]

3. LEAVE MY LEVERS ALONE!

I love my levers. A lot more than I love my Congress.

Lousy lever killers.

[warbly]

7. the Westmoreland County Comissioners are idiots

or on the take,
or both.
-----

There is so much info that these machines are unreliable, unverifiable, and all around unsuitable to democracy. It is a dereliction of duty for any commissioner or election supervisor to purchase paperless touchscreen voting machines with taxpayer money at this point.
----
someone should do a little digging into who these commissioners are and what the relationship is with ES+S, exactly...

[Yellow Horse]

8. Kick (These Commissioners Should be KICKED OUT.)

Westmoreland County:
http://www.co.westmoreland.pa.us/westmoreland/site/default.asp

Election Bureau:
http://www.co.westmoreland.pa.us/westmoreland/cwp/view.asp?a=1428&Q=576523&westmorelandNav=|

[suston96]

9. "Section. 4. Clause 1

The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators."

Senators are now chosen directly by the people.

But Congress has full authority to straighten out the elections. Congress needs its feet held to the fire on this.

[Yellow Horse]

10. Westmoreland County Official Public Contact info:

Found on official county site
http://www.co.westmoreland.pa.us/westmoreland/cwp/view.asp?a=1421&q=620602

Westmoreland County Commissioners
Main Office
2 N. North Main Street
Suite 101
Greensburg, PA  15601
Phone:  [phone]
Fax:  [phone]

Commissioner Chair, Tom Balya: [e-mail]
Commissioner, Thomas Ceraso : [e-mail]
Commissioner Secretary, Phil Light : [e-mail]

Bureau of Elections & Voter Registration
Paula T. Pedicone, Director of Elections
2 N. Main Street
Suite 109
Greensburg, PA  15601
Phone:  [phone]
Fax:  [phone]

[e-mail]


Westmoreland County Controller
Carmen Pedicone, Controller
2 N. Main Street
Suite 111
Greensburg, PA  15601
Toll free: 800.442.6926
Phone:    [phone]
Fax:       [phone]

[e-mail]

Note from site:
"The Controller's Office administers the financial affairs of the County as prescribed by law and regulation, with the aim of promoting accountability and efficiency in our fiscal operations."

[Al-CIAda]

12. .

[ecoalex]

13. They will have Tabulation to hach still too in the County and State

[stlsaxman]

14. Heck, 3 million is a low low price for choosing the next Congress...

the GOP got off CHEAP!

I'd think that buying Democracy would be AT LEAST $50,000,000.00.