Tired of questions and concerns about the new optical scam voting machines, Schoharie County Supervisors Friday unanimously passed a resolution asking that the county be allowed to continue the old-style mechanical lever-style voting machines.
The county has purchased 17 of the new machines with federal funds but most voters will again be using the lever-style machines this November.
The new machines will be used in a pilot program in the Town of Schoharie’s three districts.
Questions have been raised about the cost and reliability of the new machines and election commissioner Cliff Hay said the people that certify the new machines were decertified for some reason and have to be re-certified.
The resolution approved by the board states that the county has used the lever machines successfully for many years with very few problems.
The federal government has provided funds for the purchase of new machines after voting problems in the presidential votes in Florida in 2004.
If the state replaces the lever machines with optical scan systems, “the cost to the taxpayers of Schoharie County, both now and in the future, of amounts not covered by HAVA Fund will be prohibitive,” the resolution states.
“This mandated discontinuance of lever voting machines constitutes an unfunded mandate upon Schoharie County and significantly increases the cost of elections to the county’s citizens.”
The new computerized voting system, the resolution states, “will be a huge expense and undertaking in Schoharie County during this time of economic uncertainty.”
A copy of the resolution will be sent to state and federal officials.
Board Chairman Earl VanWormer said the county has joined with other counties and groups urging the continued use of the old-style machines.
Officials thought the new machines were approved.
“That’s part of our frustration,” Mr. VanWormer said.
“We’re kind of caught in the middle.”
Mr. Hay said the old machines cannot be used for federal elections but can be used this year since there are only local races on the ballot.
The pilot program in Schoharie will determine how quickly voters can use the machines and answer other questions about use.
“We don’t know,” he said. “We never tried it.”
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In other action, board members:
• Heard Meg Cooke of Catholic Charities say that October is domestic violence awareness month. She urged people to wear purple on Thursdays that month. Several supervisors agreed to have small purple flags put up by town signs in October.
• Heard that the county has gotten about $40,000 back from the Chamber of Commerce which transferred tourism to the county. More is expected.
• Heard that the county has gotten about $1.4 million in stimulus funds for paving on Mineral Springs Road and a culvert project on Barton Hill Road.