Ohio preps for Nov., reviews voting machine practices (prohibit workers from taking machines home)

[sabra]

Source: AP

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio's elections chief is reconsidering a plan to prohibit poll workers from taking voting machines home for safekeeping in the days before the November presidential election.

Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner announced plans in February to scrap the practice known as "sleepovers" because of security concerns. But her proposal is being attacked by county elections officials who argue that the custom makes it easier to transport machines to polling sites.

"She has listened to the concerns of election officials and ultimately wants to do what is best for their process but also make sure that all safety precautions are considered," Brunner spokesman Patrick Gallaway said Wednesday.

Brunner has frequently referred to a Licking County poll worker who took a machine home for safekeeping and improperly voted on it, fearing there wouldn't be enough time on Election Day.

Election officials say safeguards prevent such a tampered machine from being used at the polls because it would not have the required vote tally of "zero" before voting began.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-07-10-ohio-voting-machines_N.htm

[peace13]

1. Stand strong SOS Brunner!

Those machines are loaded in cars and taken home then set up in gyms and churches around the state with no security until election day morning. As a poll worker I know how it works in Ohio.

[Botany]

2. "they" take the machines so "they" can start work early

Vote on paper in Ohio or vote early

[peace13]

5. Paper for all IMO. n/t

[DeepModem Mom]

3. K&R

[ohtransplant]

4. It's a start.

I hope to see a much more orderly process, less confusion at the polls and better distribution of voting machines - than in 2004. It's a pretty low standard really.

JB seems to have her eye on the ball and doesn't telegraph her moves. I'm confident things will be better in 2008. The question is how much.

Peace.