New York faces voting challenge Commissioners concerned about new machines

[Bill Bored]

By Cara Matthews Albany Bureau July 19, 2008

http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080719/NEWS01/807190340

ALBANY — Bugs in new voting machines, difficulties getting storage-space funding and general anxiety about changing a system that's been around more than a century are problems counties face as the state continues its long march toward compliance with a federal voting-rights law.

-snip-

Sequoia is working with the state to resolve any concerns about voting equipment, said Michelle Shafer, a spokeswoman for the company.

A spokesperson for Election Systems & Software, the other vendor, could not immediately be reached for comment Friday. The company is supplying ballot-marking devices without scanners.

Bo Lipari, head of New Yorkers for Verified Voting, said he believes the quality of voting machines being produced around the country is “questionable” and New York has a rigorous quality-control process that is catching problems.

State Board of Elections Commissioner Douglas Kellner said he is optimistic all the ballot-marking devices needed will be in place this year, but he is less so about the devices and scanners for next year.

“My concern is whether the vendors will actually be able to deliver equipment that is fully operational in sufficient time,” he said.

After learning some counties were reluctant to provide extra money for storage space, the state Board of Elections sent a letter to county officials, reminding them they have an obligation to properly store the electronic equipment. It has to be kept in a climate-controlled space because it is more sensitive to environmental conditions than the old lever machines, and maintenance costs are higher.

“The counties' fiscal condition statewide is fragile, and property taxes being what they are in the state of New York, there's no interest in raising property taxes for this mandate,” he (Stephen Acquario, general counsel and executive director for the state Association of Counties) said.

[Captain Hilts]

1. We need machines like this and voters like this:

[Wilms]

2. $

After learning $ome countie$ were reluctant to provide extra money for $torage $pace, the $tate Board of Election$ $ent a letter to county official$, reminding them they have an obligation to properly $tore the electronic equipment. It ha$ to be kept in a climate-controlled $pace becau$e it i$ more $en$itive to environmental condition$ than the old lever machine$, and maintenance co$t$ are higher.

County government leader$ have been fru$trated at HAVA-related expen$e$, but they well know their re$pon$ibility in following the law, $aid $tephen Acquario, general coun$el and executive director for the $tate A$$ociation of Countie$. He wa$ not able to e$timate how much additional money countie$ were $pending.

“The countie$' fi$cal condition $tatewide i$ fragile, and property taxe$ being what they are in the $tate of New York, there'$ no intere$t in rai$ing property taxe$ for thi$ mandate,” he $aid.