Deal for voting devices is close
Optical scan machines could be used in Plant City's municipal elections.
By BILL VARIAN, Times Staff Writer
Published February 9, 2008
TAMPA - The last county in the state to secure new voting equipment for the fall elections is close to inking a deal for optical scan machines.
Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections Buddy Johnson said he is finalizing a deal with Premier Election Solutions, formerly Diebold Election Systems. He plans to present the recommendation to Hillsborough County commissioners Feb. 20.
A screening committee ranked Premier, which supplies voting equipment to 33 other Florida counties, the top bidder among five that submitted offers to supply all or part of the equipment needed.
The cost to make the switch will be just less than $6-million. However, the state will reimburse part of that with federal grant money, bringing the cost to the county to about $3.5-million.
While Premiere didn't have the lowest bid, its experience, financial strength and assurances it has equipment on hand to supply the county quickly tipped scoring in its favor. The company also has approved technology that allows disabled voters to use the same machines.
"They are incredibly competent at what they do," Johnson said. "No company, no system is perfect. But they have vast experience and are already operating with optical scan in many, many counties in Florida."
Legislators last year required all counties switch to optical scan voting systems. Several, including Hillsborough, went to touch screen machines after the 2000 hanging chad fiasco. But touch screens came under attack because they don't produce a paper record of votes.
Late last year, Secretary of State Kurt Browning publicly voiced concern that Hillsborough was lagging all other counties in making the switch, leaving little time to train poll workers and the public.
Kathy Harris, general counsel and chief of staff for Johnson, said Friday that Hillsborough County will meet a July 1 deadline for having new equipment. In fact, she hopes to use the machines for Plant City municipal elections April 8.
"We're pretty confident we're going to be able to roll them out," Harris said. "That will be one of our tests."
Bill Varian can be reached at varian@sptimes.com or 813 226-3387.