Posted: 12/6/05
New election equipment plan approved
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
County commissioners approved a new election equipment plan at a public hearing on November 29.
The plan calls for the purchase of 31 new pieces of election equipment, including 17 assisted voting machines and 14 precinct counters.
The plan also creates 12 polling places for the 27 precincts in the county. Sharing polling places means that fewer pieces of equipment will be needed, which is a cost savings.
The exact breakdown of who will vote where isnít set yet, county auditor Pete Johnson said. It should be ready by the end of January, he said. There will be no more than four cities or townships sharing a location.
The changes take affect in 2006 for federal and state elections. County, city, township, and school board elections wonít have to comply with the plan until 2008.
The changes stem from a federal law passed in 2002 called the Help America Vote Act as well as a Minnesota law passed in 2005. The laws require a voting system that is accessible for individuals with disabilities.
All of the new equipment is being paid for by federal funds. Houston County received $190,603.70 for assisted voting equipment, and and $81,000 for the precinct counters.
But training costs that the county will have to pay will be ìsignificant,î the plan states. Other county costs will include insurance, supplies, and rental space to store the new equipment.
Six people attended the hearing, which lasted for 30 minutes and was conducted during a break in the regular county board meeting.
Ellyn Baumann, the publisher of the Houston Banner, said she was concerned with veracity and authenticity with the new equipment.
Auditor Johnson, who put the equipment plan together, said there wonít be anything different for voters. If there is a problem, ballots can be counted by hand, he said. Accuracy tests will also be run through the new counters, he added.
Norman Oseth, supervisor of Caledonia Township, thought training was ìway overdoneî with the new plan.
Johnson responded there there needs to be somebody at each polling place to address questions. ìBecause if itís the wrong answer, thereís usually trouble down the road,î he said.
Johnson will now send a resolution to cities and townships for approval.
The new requirements actually came at a good time for Houston County. Johnson said the old central count equipment was outdated and didnít meet state requirements. It also wasnít being served by its old vendors anymore.
The county will own, store and maintain the equipment, and pay for training, Johnson said.
The plan was devised during three meetings that the auditorís office held with commissioners and county entities.
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