Fla. governor looks to replace touch-screen voting

[EricForman]

After several elections with disputed results, Florida's new Republican governor, Charlie Crist, has decided to replace paperless touch-screen voting machines in 17 counties with optical scanning voting hardware that will include paper records of the votes cast. Crist is expected to unveil his plans tomorrow.

Josh Rogin, deputy chief of staff for Rep. Robert Wexler, (D-Fla.), confirmed today that Crist will include the initiative as part of his proposed state budget. "The governor will announce that significant funds will be a part of his budget to ensure a paper trail will be available throughout the state."

More than $20 million is expected to be earmarked for the replacement project in the budget proposal, Rogin said.

Wexler has been working feverishly in Congress for the last six years to improve the accuracy of his state's elections, Rogin said. Wexler's concerns were fueled by vote-counting problems that surfaced during the 2000 presidential election in the state. It eventually took a U.S. Supreme Court ruling to stop a recount in Florida, thus giving Republican George W. Bush, not Democrat Al Gore, the state's electoral votes and the presidency. Continuing problems have emerged since then, including in the 2004 presidential election and in a Congressional race last year.

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[Mod8]

Talk about closing the barn door.

:oregonian_gaah:

[USA#1]

I voted for Davis but Like Crist --- He's still one hell of a fighter for peoples rights. He's no pushover.

I can live with Crist.

What about this closing the barn door Mod 8? What do you mean ... you having animal sex again ??? :Moo:

Just Joking

[Mr.Dude]

I remember listening to the inventor of the punch card voting machines interviewed after the problems in Florida. He was a teacher over at UC Berkeley. He was discussing the technical details of the voting accuracy of the machine versus the inability of the constituents to understand what they were doing.

As for the "chad" issue, I remember a election and I could force the pin to puch through. I pulled out my ballot and lifted the cover and found that the tray was absolutely full of "chads." I dumped them out, voted and told the election workers who immediately - did nothing.

As someone who has run for office I can assure you that politicians get up to tricks to try and make the ballots confusing so as to cause voters mistakes.