Reply #3: They could have bought Op-scan Machines in 2001, for $5 million.

[nodictators]

Instead, they bought the Chuck Hagel touchscreens for $25 million.
(Pardon me if I call the ES&S touchscreens by the name of a prominent US Senator who has or had a financial stake in ES&S).

Then there is this in the posted excerpt:

<Penelas'> proposal drew a sharp rebuke from the head of the county's Election Reform Coalition, who said the county should not consider spending money on paper ballots when officials don't have time to test that system or train workers.

Who are they kidding? Op-scan machines are much simpler and cheaper than touchscreens and require little training. In fact, precinct workers just turn them on and let the voters insert their ballots. What could be simpler?