Justice Department review of vote-machines sale sought

NORTH CANTON, Ohio (AP) — U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer is asking the Justice Department to review Diebold Inc.’s sale of its U.S. voting-machine business to a bigger competitor, Election Systems & Software Inc. of Omaha, Neb.

The New York Democrat said today that the sale could have adverse implications on how the country votes.

Schumer is seeking the review based on anti-competitiveness concerns, saying one company would control more than three-quarters of the U.S. market for voting systems. Mahoning County’s voting machines are by ES&S. The senator says increased consolidation in the voting-machines market could make elections more susceptible to fraud.

Diebold, of North Canton, announced the sale of its Allen, Texas-based subsidiary Premier Election Solutions Inc. earlier this month.

Diebold spokesman Mike Jacobson says the transaction is closed and referred questions to ES&S.