Palm Beach to add printers to vote machines

WEST PALM BEACH - The touch screen voting machines that were expected to rid Palm Beach of ballot controversies could eventually be equipped with printing machines to allow voters to double-check their selections.

Palm Beach County commissioners agreed on Tuesday to buy the ballot printers when the state certifies the equipment.

The anticipated $3.2-million expense doesn't guarantee printers will be in place for the November presidential election. But it ensures the county will no longer be a defendant in a lawsuit by U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Delray Beach, to force use of the printers.

After the 2000 election debacle, where 37 days of recounts ultimately awarded George W. Bush the presidency, Florida replaced punch card ballots and other low-tech voting methods with touch screens and optical scan machines.

Critics of the new voting machines argue that they still are susceptible to errors and can't be trusted to tally votes without a backup paper record in case a recount is required. Supervisors of elections in most counties dispute the need for the added equipment.

The new printers will allow voters to check printed versions of their ballots against the screens. If a voter notices a discrepancy, changes can be made before the ballot is cast.

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