Technology drunk

Why use a paper and pencil when you can do the same thing with a $3000 machine?

HARRISBURG — Thursday's state Supreme Court ruling will allow Luzerne County and 23 other counties to replace lever-style voting machines with electronic devices for the May 16 primary election. But Luzerne County might not have enough time to train the public and election workers to use the new electronic machines in the primary. Counties are rushing to upgrade or replace old balloting systems because a 2002 federal law requires that elections for federal office be held on systems that meet certain tests.

State Sen. Jim Ferlo, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, called the decision predictable.
"It's a political decision, not a legal decision," said the Allegheny County Democrat.
Ferlo said he is concerned that the newer voting systems are being rushed into service by companies that make electronic voting machines without adequate information being provided to voters. He also criticized the computerized touchscreen systems certified so far because they cannot provide voters with written verification of the votes they cast.
"There is a substantive issue here about the integrity and the trust in the voting process itself," he said.

I hate rushed decisions. Because Florida couldn't get it right means the rest of the country has to do things that are not in the interest of voters. Our machines probably outlived their useful life but they still work. If Washington is going to mandate a change they should come up with a national standard that everyone can agree on.