THE GRANT FOR VOTING MACHINES - MY VIEWS

Some thoughts about the grant proposal the County Board will consider to have the county purchase all the voting machines needed to comply with the HAVA Act of 2002.

First off I am all for purchase in a joint effort when possible and when I believe that purchase is a reasonable and correct choice and all factors have been considered.

But I cannot support this purchase for a number of reasons. While the clerks of each of the municipalities do have the right choose what machine to I challenge how well they looked all the possible machines and did they consider the individuals the machines are for, the handicap. It was not until last weeks County Board Special meeting that any handicapped individuals were asked to try the machines. And that only after a story in the local newspaper detailing how the handicap were not asked their opinion on the voting machines.

At the meeting individuals which were handicapped did express their problems with the machines, and the Deibolt salesman said that he would take those concerns to the programmers but did say that anything would be fixed

For that reason I cannot support a grring with this grant, I ask that contact the oshkosh city council your desire not purchase the Deibolt voting machines.