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Ohio Selects Electronic Voting Systems

Voting machines deployed in several counties.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Ohio Secretary of State's Office has sought accurate and secure voting machinery that will comply with the federally mandated Help America Vote Act (HAVA). Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell announced deployment of an electronic voting system supported by a comprehensive program of services.

"From the beginning of this process our goal was to offer Ohioans the most accurate and secure voting machinery available with the best service price and warranty available as well," said Blackwell in making the announcement. "Based on our market analysis, we are confident that the price, service and warranty we have negotiated is one, if not the best in the nation."

Elections in Ashtabula, Hamilton and Portage Counties on August 5th successfully conducted using the eSlate system from Maximus and Hart InterCivic. Exit surveys completed by more than 2,000 voters in the three counties reported that more than 96 percent of voters found the system easy to use. The system was also successfully used in Ohio's Cuyahoga County during elections held in May 2002 and the company's paper ballot-on-demand application was used effectively in Lucas County, Ohio, for absentee voting during the May 2003 elections.

The eSlate System is easy for election workers because of its light weight (just 7.7 pounds with battery backup) and built-in polling place management features. The system requires no special storage or maintenance, and has been nationally recognized for its accessibility to voters with disabilities.
Miriam Jones is a former chief copy editor of Government Technology, Governing, Public CIO and Emergency Management magazines.