Reply #3: CT: New voting machines for November elections [View All]

[EFerrari]

New voting machines for November elections

By: Marilyn Moss, Special to the Bulletin
08/24/2006

The Connecticut Secretary of the State, Susan Bysiewicz, has announced plans to implement new voting systems for the state. The change was undertaken to satisfy the Help America Vote Act, which went into effect Jan. 1 for federal elections. The law mandates that accessible, private and independent voting privileges be provided to all voters, including voters with disabilities.

The state will invest in two types of voting systems to meet the needs of Connecticut voters. One system, the AccuVote optical scanner, a Diebold machine supplied by LHS Associates, has been in use for a number of years in several towns in Connecticut. This will replace the former lever machines which can no longer be used.


The AccuVote scanner is compact and user-friendly, requiring little training. The voter must fill in small ovals that correspond to the candidate of their choice, much like marking a standardized test. Once the ballot is completed, it is fed into the scanning machine to be counted. A paper receipt is printed to be reviewed, but not removed, by the voter. This ballot is then deposited into a sealed area for use if a recount is necessary.

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1661&dept_id=9538&newsid=17095115&PAG=461&rfi=9