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Maryland Scraps Diebold Voting System

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the long-overdue dept.

beadfulthings writes "After eight years and some $65 million, the state of Maryland is taking its first steps to return to an accountable, paper-ballot based voting system. Governor Martin O'Malley has announced an initial outlay of $6.5 million towards the $20 million cost of an optical system which will scan and tally the votes while the paper ballots are retained as a backup. The new (or old) system is expected to be in place by 2010 — or four years before the state finishes paying off the bill for the touch-screen system."

2 of 209 comments (clear)

  1. I have nothing to say, besides by TheDarkener · · Score: 1, Redundant

    Thank you.

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    It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.
  2. NY Might Keep Physical (Paper) Ballot Records by Doc+Ruby · · Score: 0, Redundant

    According to NY Verified Voting, partisan deadlock and a lack of product alternatives might just combine to ensure that NY state requires that every voting machine that replaces our time-honored "Iron Maidens" (metal mechanical lever-pull boards) voting booths be a paper ballot. Marked with a standard marking machine, and counted electronically - but available for recounts as physical evidence.

    Maybe after a few hundred more years running this huge "democracy experiment" we'll finally get right the basics, like counting the votes.

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    make install -not war