Utah County has not yet picked vote machines

PROVO — Although Utah election officials have chosen their horse in the electronic voting machine bidding race, Utah County officials aren't quite ready to back the same contender.

While the county has not said it will not use the state-selected Diebold touch screen voting machine — which cost $3,100 each — commissioners are formulating a request for proposals to evaluate alternatives.

"Our purpose is not to not do what the state does, but rather to look at it and say, 'What's in the best interest of county residents in terms of the cost of doing this, and doing it in a way that complies with the law and allows accurate voting?' " said Commissioner Larry Ellertson.

Voting machines across the country must be upgraded by 2006 to comply with 2002's Help America Vote Act (HAVA). The federal government gives the state $20.5 million to replace the machines, but the final cost is expected to be $25 million or more, with counties expected to pay the difference.

Ellertson said Utah County officials want to explore their options and make sure that the most cost-effective compliant machines are purchased by the county.

"There is some concern about the costs of the electronic process, going fully that direction," he said. "I think (the request for proposals) is just looking to see what is out there in terms of compliant systems and how we might meet that in a less costly, yet still effective manner."

Ellertson said the county is not ruling out the possibility of purchasing the state machines.

"The purpose of the (request for proposals) is to give us information which we would then use to make a decision as to whether we follow what the state has or go another direction," he said.

"Either way, our plan is to be fully compliant with the national law."

Utah County voters use a punch-card system, which was essentially rendered obsolete by the new federal guidelines. HAVA requires that voters be able to address mistakes such as missed votes and that disabled voters have better access to equipment.

Utah County Commissioners have said that using direct-recording electronic (DRE) voting machines, like the one chosen by the state, could result in a county tax increase.

"If we go with the completely DRE solution, it will require a huge tax increase for the county because we'd be adding 100 machines a year."

"That's $300,000 dollars, and that's not an option that I'd be particularly pleased and excited about," said Commissioner Steve White at a recent government meeting.

Part of the commission's concerns stem from the county's rapid growth.

In 2000, the county had 207 voting precincts. Now, there are 269.

The county must choose a HAVA-compliant system and have it in place by Jan. 1.

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E-mail: mdecker@desnews.com