Hillsborough dawdles on vote switch

Florida Secretary of State Kurt Browning has smartly sounded the alarm over Hillsborough County's lack of preparation for next year's elections. Hillsborough is lagging behind the rest of Florida in switching to a new voting system and wasting time needed to test the machines, work out any bugs and train staff and volunteers before the state's fourth-largest county goes to the polls.

Running an election is no easy thing, even for an experienced staff working with familiar equipment. Hillsborough County Elections Supervisor Buddy Johnson consistently has had trouble managing his operation. Now Hillsborough is one of 15 counties that must switch from touch screen voting machines to paper ballots. The state required the change to produce a paper trail for elections. Unlike election supervisors in Pinellas and other large counties, Johnson has yet to seek bids for the new equipment. The deadline to switch is July 1.

Johnson said he is focused on preparing his existing equipment to handle the Jan. 29 presidential preference primary. He said he has talked with vendors and explored his options and will meet the deadline. The new machines must be used for the Aug. 26 primary. Johnson said he was "shocked" and "astounded" at Browning's comments. His in-house attorney suggested Browning may be overwhelmed himself. He was the elections supervisor in Pasco before Gov. Charlie Crist named him secretary of state in December 2006.

Johnson should respond to Browning's legitimate concerns with action, not criticism. Browning was measured in his comments. His solid performance over the decades made him a mentor to elections officials throughout the state. While he does not control locally elected elections supervisors, the secretary is responsible for tabulating Florida's vote - which makes Johnson's management in Hillsborough an issue of state concern. And the substance of what Browning said cannot be ignored. As a practical matter, Johnson will have to scramble to sign the contracts, obtain the machines, troubleshoot the system and train his staff - in a busy presidential year when Johnson is also up for re-election. He should view the secretary as an ally and a resource The only concern here should be to spare Florida - and Hillsborough County in particular - from becoming a weak link in the electoral process again.

[Last modified December 17, 2007, 22:06:36]