PA: Monroe won't pay for voting machines

[Wilms]

December 26, 2005

Monroe won't pay for voting machines

U.S. wants county to fund half of $1.2 million. So far, the answer is no.

By Matt Birkbeck

snip

''We've budgeted no county money and we're not kicking in any cash,'' said Commissioner Chairwoman Donna Asure. ''We are looking at meeting the HAVA requirements by any other means other than costing local taxpayers.''

With a Jan. 1 deadline days away and no local funds in place, the commissioners know they are treading on dangerous ground, opening themselves up to a fight with the federal government. It is the only county in Pennsylvania to refuse to use local funding to pay for voting machines.

The Justice Department warned the commissioners a year ago that they ''must obey the law'' and could face a lawsuit if they don't comply.

But the commissioners remain as undaunted today as they did then, firmly resolved against paying for what they say is an unfunded mandate.

snip

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-b1_1havadec26,0,7160670.story?coll=all-newslocalbirths-hed

[Benhurst]

1. Good for them!

What we need is a "Boston Tea Party" for computer voting machines.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

2. What state is this? I'm in Monroe County Fla

but this is in another state.

[Wilms]

4. Pennsylvania n/t

[tinfoilinfor2005]

8. Oh, sorry, I see it now further in the article.

Doh.

[EST]

3. Very good news

[eleny]

5. Nothing wrong with eyeballs doing the counting

I once contacted a number of counties here in Colorado about their vote counting methods. One of our mountain counties doesn't have machines. When I asked what method they use to count, the woman told me they use eyeballs. They're very satisfied with their method. :D

[IndyOp]

6. San Francisco hand counts, too! If they can, we *all* can! (nt)

[nicknameless]

13. No ... unfortunately, we don't.

I was misinformed by an Assemblymember's staffer.

I had never spoken to any staffer who knew more about what had been going on regarding the voting machines and the rethug SoS's machinations.
He told me, with no hint of doubt, "San Francisco hand counts all of its ballots. That's why it takes so long to certify the results."
I asked him if he didn't mean that they hand count just a random sample. He said "No".

He sure sounded convincing to me.
Amaryllis recommended double and triple checking the information, so I called the SF elections office the next day.

Answer: No SF only hand counts a random sample.
I sent PMs to those who replied to that thread, posted correction replies, and posted a new correction thread.
Very sorry for the misinformation. I sure wish that it had been true. **Sigh**

:(

(Edited for clarity)

[GuvWurld]

7. Municipal Civil Disobedience - YES!! - YES!! - OMFG - YES!!

This story is every bit as important as the hack test in Leon County, FL that led to Diebold getting dropped. They are both great for the examples they set for other counties. But today's news is different, on a whole new level, because it is municipal civil disobedience. This is what I've been calling for since forever. We have to use this as leverage in the work we do in our own communities.

Interesting note about this article: the resistance is presented as coming solely from the unfunded mandate angle and not election integrity. Whatever it takes: WE DO NOT CONSENT.

[GuvWurld]

11. GuvWurld Blog has more commentary on this important story

http://guvwurld.blogspot.com/2005/12/monroe-county-pa-refuses-to-buy.html

[Wilms]

12. Another article covering the story.

Monroe County won't pay for voting machines

STROUDSBURG -- Monroe County is refusing to spend county money to comply with a federal elections law.

The Help America Vote Act bans the continued use of the 120 lever machines that the county has used. But the county does not want to raise taxes to pay the estimated $600,000 to cover their share of the $1.2 million needed to replace them. Federal funds will pay the remainder.

"We are trying to follow the regulations without raising taxes or breaking the law, and we know it will be a challenge," County Commission Chairwoman Donna Asure said.

The Justice Department warned the commissioners a year ago that they could face a lawsuit if they don't comply.

A spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of State, which regulates elections, said Monroe County needs to have a federally compliant system in place for the spring primary, but the state does not concern itself with how the county does it.

snip

http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/13493550.htm

[Wilms]

15. And in MO, the County Clerk is wary.

Thursday, December 29, 2005

Feds force new voting machines local officials say weren't needed

Thursday, December 22, 2005

By Mark Lile/Staff Writer

Saline County voters will see some new equipment when they go to the polls for state or general elections next year -- even though the county's chief election official says the system which has been is use works fine.

County Clerk Ken Bryant announced at Thursday's meeting of the county commissioners that he was proposing to spend $159,595 on new voting equipment including 20 electronic touch-screen units and the related training and software.

Bryant had expressed a reluctance last month to spend up to $189,400 which Secretary of State Robin Carnahan's office had announced was available to Saline County for updating voting equipment under the Help America Vote Act of 2002.

snip

While the initial expense for the machines and software is paid for through federal moneys, Bryant also is concerned about ongoing related costs such as training of election judges and software updates or maintenance.

snip

http://www.marshallnews.com/story/1132514.html

[GuvWurld]

9. Kick (eom)

[kster]

10. kick.nt

[Chi]

14. What was that G.O.P. talking point under Clinton....

Oh yeah.... NO MORE UNFUNDED MANDATES heh
I guess that doesn't count anymore in Chimp World.

Good for them.