Brunner says election system could be overhauled by November

YOUNGSTOWN — If the state Legislature cooperates, Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner says Ohio can overhaul its election system in time for the November general election.

More than $100 million was spent to change voting systems in Ohio as a result of problems during the 2000 and 2004 general elections. Brunner said it would cost about $31 million this year to replace touch-screen electronic voting machines in the 57 counties, including Mahoning and Trumbull, that have them, as well as to pay for training and salaries for pollworkers.

She couldn’t say the cost for 2009.

Based on a $1.9 million study of electronic voting machines, Brunner said she is convinced they are unreliable and can easily be tampered.

“I don’t have a lot of confidence in these machines, but I’m stuck with them,” she told The Vindicator on Wednesday. “We have substandard technology.”

Brunner wants to get rid of the machines immediately, but says there isn’t enough time to do so statewide for the March 4 primary.

For the complete story, read Thursday’s Vindicator or vindy.com