Officials agree to comply

A touch-screen voting system may be too costly, says a commissioner.
By VIRGINIA ROSS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- In order to secure the county's receipt of nearly $1 million in federal aid, the Lawrence County commissioners have agreed to ensure the county's compliance with the Help America Vote Act.
Commissioners, at their Tuesday meeting, adopted a resolution that obligates the county to comply with the federal act -- a measure that essentially provides individuals with disabilities an opportunity to vote at the polls. To be eligible for the funding, the county must identify a voting system by Dec. 31 that can be used by individuals with disabilities and be in the process of purchasing that system or be working toward that goal.
County officials have said they are working toward making all polling sites accessible to everyone but they are not close to making a decision on which system to use. The county has used an optical scan system for more than 20 years.
County elections officials have looked into purchasing a touch-screen voting system, but they are concerned such a system might not provide them with the paper trail the current system provides.
"Plus the cost is a factor," Commissioner Ed Fosnaught said. "I think to buy a touch-screen machine for all of our precincts would be too costly."
Marlene Gabriel, county elections director, said the county has spent the last year looking at new machines and voting methods. But none of the vendors who visited the county has been approved by the state, she said.
Most not accessible
To further complicate matters, the county has 106 voting precincts, most of which are not accessible to disabled individuals. An advisory committee formed to study the matter has suggested consolidating several voting sites throughout the county. Fosnaught said he favors that approach.
Officials also have discussed establishing three polling sites, one each in the southern, central and northern areas of the county, for disabled voters until all precincts can be made accessible to them.
"That could be a temporary approach," Gabriel said. "But we still have to make all of our polling sites accessible. We have to look, not just at the machines, but at putting in access ramps and whatever else might be needed. There's a lot to consider."
Gabriel said the $1 million in federal aid being provided for the conversion will help, but is not enough to cover the cost of making the 100 plus nonaccessible precincts accessible to disabled individuals.
The advisory committee planned to meet today to further discuss the matter.