The State of Mississippi has contracted with Diebold Election Systems to purchase electronic voting systems for jurisdictions within the state that currently do not have voting systems that meet Help America Vote Act (HAVA) requirements. The contract calls for Diebold to provide up to 5,000 AccuVote TSX touch-screen voting machines and technical support services for five years.

"These voting machines will greatly improve the accuracy and integrity of every election in our state," said Mississippi Secretary of State Eric Clark. "They are easy to use and are secure." An election system review committee, led by Secretary of State Clark and including local election officials and representatives of the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services (ITS), conducted an analysis before selecting Diebold as their supplier. The first use of the new touch screen systems will be during the primary elections in June 2006.

Diebold has manufactured more than 90 percent of the automated teller machines (ATMs) in use throughout the state. Secretary Clark added, "Diebold has accurately and securely kept up with Mississippians' money for years. They will do just as well keeping up with our votes."

Diebold provides election systems statewide for Georgia, Alaska, most of Maryland and Arizona. Additionally, Diebold is in contract negotiations in Utah to implement a statewide touch screen voting system and in Alabama to implement a statewide voter registration system.