New voting system readied (Merced CA / ES&S BBV)

Tuesday, October 21, 2003

By Cheri Carlson - Merced Sun-Star
With the gubernatorial recall election a not-too-distant memory, election officials are rushing to get Merced County ready for the next bout of ballots, set to be cast next month.

But while the two elections - scheduled less than a month apart - will both be historic, voters will notice some distinctive changes at their polling places.

Instead of a paper ballot being doled out by poll workers, in November, voters will be the first county residents to cast their decision using a touch-screen system.

snip

The county will have 446 of ES&S’ touch screen voting machines, which should cut down printing costs and make the county compliant with the federal Americans With Disabilities Act, ensuring that blind voters can cast their ballots without the help of a third party.

more...

http://www.mercedsun-star.com/news/newsview.asp?c=78988

The 2000 election debacle has opened a legal precedent which will make it easier for lawyers on either side of the coin to dispute any election results when they are close.
The ease of use and complete rational recordings of votes mean nothing when lawyers get involved.

Instead of spending all this needless money on machines?

that there will never be another democrat elected in any district in california that uses the electronic balloting machines.