grammydidi
Sep 21 2006, 06:27 AM
(Chattanooga, TN.)
Election Administrator Says Federal Voting Machines Not Needed
posted September 20, 2006
Election Administrator Bud Knowles told the County Commission on Wednesday that only 26 people voted on the special electronic machines out of more than 50,000 voters in the August election.
County Commissioner John Brooks asked, "Do you mean over $350,000 was spent on machines that aren't needed and probably don't work right?"
Mr. Knowles said, "That's right."
He pointed out that the $366,562.50 was federal money and there was no local cost.
County Commissioner Fred Skillern said wryly, "It's just $12 a vote."
I don't know what calculator this guy uses, but it's +$14K per vote if you use the actual usages. If you divided by the total number of voters, it's $7.33.
Mr. Knowles said the machines, designed to help those with disabilities vote, were mandated by Congress.
He said there is currently "no paper trail" to back up results from the electronic machines, though he said that may be implemented by the Nov. 7 election.
Enough machines were purchased to provide one for each precinct.