COLUMBUS , Ohio -- Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell announced that Diebold Elections Systems, Election Systems & Software (ES&S), Maximus/Hart Intercivic/ DFM Associates, and Sequoia Voting Systems have been selected as vendors qualified to participate in Ohio's implementation of the
federally mandated Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA). All selected vendors are providing electronic voting devices. Diebold Elections Systems and ES&S also are offering precinct-count optical scan devices.

Sequoia Voting Systems was previously removed from the vendor evaluation process. The company filed suit in the Ohio Court of Claims and obtained a permanent injunction. Seeking to avoid delays of several months in appellate court, Blackwell negotiated and reached agreement with the vendor. The secretary of state will work in tandem with the attorney general and Sequoia to seek dismissal of the Court of Claims decision, and toward an amicable resolution of all outstanding legal issues.

"The implementation of election reform in Ohio is far too important to be sidetracked by mounting litigation and legal appeals," Blackwell said. "It is time to move forward as we continue with the process of providing Ohioans with voting equipment that is more accurate, more reliable and easier to use."

"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," Blackwell said. "Based on our market analysis, we are confident that the price, service and warranty we have negotiated is one of, if not, the best in the nation."

The total cost of ownership, which is the best state negotiated pricing in the nation for a single electronic voting system device and support is as follows: Diebold Elections Systems AccuVote-TS, $2,964.96; ES&S iVotronic, $2,896.68; Maximus/Hart Intercivic/DFM Associates eSlate 3000, $2,997.97; and Sequoia Voting Systems AVC Edge, $2,966.89. Precinct count optical scan cost of ownership, also best in the nation, is as follows: Diebold Elections Systems AccuVote-OS, $4,127 and ES&S Model 100, $5,499. The secretary of state estimates that at least three electronic voting devices or one precinct count optical scan device will be necessary at each of the state's 11,614 precincts.

The total includes a comprehensive package containing all of the equipment and services required to ensure successful elections operations. When considered in total on a statewide basis, the package consists of all
necessary voting machines, software, full implementation support, extensive training of over 48,000 election officials and Election Day assistance.

In addition, full warranty on all equipment and software has been included for five years (with pricing also negotiated for years six through ten), which is the longest duration contract negotiated at the state level to
date. Accenture, LLP was hired to identify, collect and analyze key data related to the vendors, their products, pricing trends, economic factors and other industry data points. Their market data analysis assisted the secretary of state negotiating team in determining the true market value of systems and terms resulting in a savings of $33 million from initial bids to final negotiated costs.

The secretary of state's evaluation process was structured into four phases, with critical decisions made at the end of each phase. Phase one focused on mandatory requirements such as prior experience, capacity to satisfy delivery schedules and certification by national and state election systems accrediting organizations. A technical review of proposals was conducted in the second phase. Vendors performed product demonstrations during the third phase. The fourth phase focused on cost proposal evaluations. Vendors that were successful in all four phases entered into final negotiations, which addressed overall product value and contract terms.

Previously, Blackwell announced a phased-in election reform implementation process beginning with the March 2004 primary election. "The number of counties involved in a March election systems upgrade is entirely dependent on our security review and the resources available from the