Reply #11: TN: Davidson wants paper ballots [View All]

[EFerrari]

Davidson wants paper ballots
Officials urge switch now, but state says election too soon

By MICHAEL CASS • Staff Writer • April 23, 2008

Davidson County should replace its electronic voting machines with paper ballots in the August elections so it can work any kinks out before the November presidential vote, the chairman of the county's election commission said this week.

But state election officials aren't in the same hurry. If voters and poll workers have to use and understand new technology, then forget August, forget November and plan for 2010, they say.

"I think we're way too deep into this election cycle to be changing systems," state elections coordinator Brook Thompson said Tuesday.

The General Assembly is debating legislation that would require all 95 Tennessee counties to use paper ballots filled in by voters and read by optical scanners. About $30 million in federal money would cover the costs of the conversion now that the U.S. Election Assistance Commission has approved the expense.

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080423/NEWS0202/804230425/1009/news01