MicroVote to pay $350,000 for uncertified voting machines

Monroe County will be using the same voting machines the state found to have caused 198 violations of Indiana election law.\nThe state of Indiana is making MicroVote General Corp., an Indianapolis-based voting machine company, pay $350,000 in investigative fees and civil penalties for violating Indiana election law by distributing uncertified electronic voting machines to 47 different Indiana counties, including Monroe County, in 2006.\nThe company came under fire in April 2006 due to allegations that they sold uncertified voting machines to several Indiana counties. Between October 2005, when MicroVote’s certification ran out, and April 2006, when the company was recertified, it made $400,000 in sales contracts across the state. Indiana election law requires voting machines to be certified before they can be “sold, leased, or marketed for use in an election,” according to a press release from Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita’s office. By the time the primary elections rolled around in May, Jim Fielder, clerk of courts for the Monroe County Clerk’s Office, said the machines were cleared for use.\n“Prior to the election date, everything was certified,” Fielder said.\nAlthough the machines were certified, MicroVote knew about problems the machines were having before the primary elections. Allegedly the information was withheld until late July or early August 2006, according to a press release. The problems dealt with split-precinct and straight-ticket votes, features that aren’t necessary for primary elections but are required for certification. Fielder, who said he is currently going through more than 2,000 pages on the litigation, said voters can be sure their votes counted in the past and will count in the future.\n“It affects nothing with the 2007 elections,” he said. “The vote in 2006 was counted and recounted.” \nVerify the Vote is a Bloomington-based group whose mission, according to its Web site, is “to make sure that each vote cast by an eligible Indiana voter will be recorded, counted and reported accurately.” Member James Allison said he thinks the state should use voting machines that leave paper trails in case of technical problems. He added that he thinks new problems will likely arise in the November elections, despite the fact that the machines seem to be functioning properly.\n“I would be surprised if they don’t have new problems,” Allison said. “That can be expected with new software; this happens all the time.” \nThe civil penalties MicroVote paid to the state will go to the Voting System Technical Oversight Program, which gives technical counsel to counties, recommending the election equipment they should use.\nIU College Republicans Internal Vice Chair and senior Jodi Richardson said she is glad the problems are fixed, but she still has reservations. \n“For people who are not consistent voters, I would assume they would be more turned off to voting now,” she said. \nFielder said the problems with the voting machines have been fixed and that the same machines will be used in the November mayoral elections.