Board could decide on voting machines today
Cost, function will be compared
By Lee Raynor
Editor
Posted: 12:10 AM EST Tuessday January 24, 2006
The cost and selection of new voting machines will become clearer today when Elections Director Dana King and members of the Lenoir County Board of Elections meet to talk prices and performance.
A new federal law requires all states to use voting machines that leave a paper trail. That means King and her board will be buying between 125 and 130 new machines to replace the 99 machines used for the last 16 years.
“They’re saying we need one machine for every 250 to 300 registered voters,” King said.
The Help America Vote Act will provide almost $334,000 to pay for new machines. The cost, however, could be as high as $650,000. Expenses exceeding the grant provision must be borne by the counties.
The change is required to eliminate questionable voter choices such as those that surfaced nationwide during the last two presidential elections.
Twenty of North Carolina’s 100 counties, including Lenoir County, did not make the Jan. 20 deadline for deciding on the type of machines they will buy. King said the late decision will not endanger the federal grant money.
Neither will the postponement cause a delay of the spring primary election, which is scheduled for May 2, nor other election deadlines. If the new machines are not in place by the already scheduled dates, the county will use paper ballots, King said.
The elections board will decide whether to buy direct-record machines, which cost $3,295 each, or optical-scan models, which cost $4,995 each.
King said the elections board has delayed the decision to give themselves a choice. One manufacturer, MicroVote, has not been certified by the state and that process might take until March 1. Without MicroVote certification, the board has only a single source to consider, she said.
The board will consider more factors than just the manufacturer. Software is not included in the price and one of the machines would require the purchase of voting booths. King said without the booths, voters’ ballot selections could be viewed by anyone who is nearby, forfeiting voter privacy. With all things considered, the two types may be close in price, she said.
Filing for the spring election, which includes state legislative seats, begins Feb. 13. Other dates are:
- Tuesday, February 28
Filing period closes at noon
- Monday, March 13
First day to request absentee ballots by mail
- Friday, April 7
Voter registration deadline for May 2 primary election. Forms must be postmarked or delivered in person by this date. Last day for voters to change party affiliation before the May 2 primary election.
- Thursday, April 13
One-stop absentee voting begins for primary
- Tuesday, April 25
Last day to request absentee ballots in writing (exception due to sickness or disability)
- Saturday, April 29
One-stop absentee voting ends
- Monday, May 1
Mailed absentee ballots must be received in elections board office by 5 p.m. Deadline to request absentee ballots for sickness/disability is 5 p.m.
- Tuesday, May 2
Primary Day
- Tuesday, May 9
Canvass Day for county boards of elections
- Thursday, May 11
Noon deadline for eligible candidate to request second primary
- Tuesday, May 30
Second primary day (if needed)
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