Panel urges voting machine ban:
California should ban the use of 15,000 touch-screen voting
machines made by Diebold Election Systems from the Nov. 2 general
election, and recommended an advisory panel to Secretary of State
Kevin Shelley on Thursday. By an 8-0 vote, the state’s Voting
Systems and Procedures Panel suggested that Shelley cease the use
of the machines, saying that Texas-based Diebold has performed
poorly in California and its machines malfunctioned in the
state’s March 2 primary election, turning away many voters in
San Diego County. The recommendation affects 15,000 Diebold
touch-screen machines in San Diego, Solano, Kern and San Joaquin
counties. The panel’s decision has national implications for
the voting machine manufacturer, coming at a time when states plan
to spend billions of dollars to upgrade election equipment in the
wake of the disputed 2000 presidential election in Florida.
Compiled from Bruin reports and wire services.