Reply #1: Democratic chairman backs optical scan

[Melissa G]

Democratic chairman backs optical scan


Thanks to John Gideon for the link!
By Mark Binker
Staff Writer
RALEIGH -- The head of North Carolina's Democratic Party is encouraging local boards of elections to buy optical-scan voting machines that read paper ballots marked by voters rather than computerized touch-screen machines.

"Our sense is that voter confidence in optical-scanning systems is higher than in direct-record (computerized) systems," Jerry Meek, the party chairman, said in an interview Tuesday. "There is a significant portion of the electorate that has serious concerns about the integrity of the voting process."

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After a recent round of bidding, only ES&S of Omaha, Neb., was given the necessary certification to sell voting equipment in the state.

Other companies have shown interest in the state contract but withdrew their bids for the moment. ES&S makes optical-scan and direct-record equipment.

A new state law requires the computerized machines to produce a paper record of each ballot cast.

http://www.news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051228/NEWSREC0101/512280308/1010/NEWSREC020107