State to upgrade election equipment

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By KEVIN O'HANLON / The Associated Press

Nebraska will spend nearly $11 million for new election equipment to count ballots in the state’s 93 counties, Secretary of State John Gale said Tuesday.

The money will come from the federal government and help Nebraska comply with standards set by the federal Help America Vote Act, which was passed after the 2000 presidential election.

Voter confidence dropped after the 2000 presidential election between Republican George Bush and Democrat Al Gore. The outcome was delayed for weeks because of problems with ballots in Florida.

Congress responded with the Help America Vote Act, signed into law in 2002, that allowed spending of several billion dollars to help states update voting systems, streamline voter registration and provide voter and poll worker education.

Nebraska counties will be given optical-scanning equipment to count paper ballots and voting equipment designed for people with disabilities.

Gale said the equipment will allow Nebraska to make improvements in the election system while still maintaining its traditional use of paper ballots.

“While some states have converted 100 percent to electronic machines for voters to cast ballots, Nebraska has chosen to continue to base its election system on the paper ballot,” he said.

“A paper-ballot system has a lot of advantages,” Gale said. “It’s reliable and cost-effective, voters find it easy to use, and the ability to conduct accurate recounts is preserved.”

Forty-two Nebraska counties have been hand-counting ballots, while the rest have been using optical-scanning machines.

Now, all 93 counties will have optical-scanning equipment to ensure uniformity across the state in the way ballots are counted, Gale said.

Thirty-six counties, generally those with fewer than 3,500 registered voters, will get optical-scanning equipment that will be used at the precinct level.

The rest will get optical-scanning equipment that will be used at the county election office.

Each polling site in the state also will be equipped with a special terminal to allow people with disabilities be able to cast unassisted and private ballots.