Quantcast
Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 5

Zipping and skipping, vote-machine delay advances

On Monday, the Assembly State Government Committee unanimously advanced a proposed bill that would indefinitely delay the deadline for the state to retrofit its voting machines so they can print out a paper receipt, which would be available for recounts and enable voters to verify their choices are accurately recorded.

That bill was proposed the same day, and its language still wasn't yet online early Tuesday morning.

And if you think that's fast, check out the companion bill in the Senate.

There, the bill has been sent straight to the Senate floor and won't require a committee vote. Perhaps that's because a similar bill that would have extended the deadline to retrofit voting machines already got through the committee (on its way to being defeated on the Senate floor). Still, that bill was different -- primarily, by setting a target date of November 2010 for the program. The new bill, citing the economic conditions and inadequate technology, says the deadline would be extended until the New Jersey secretary of state says technology is adequate and the state and/or federal governments pony up the required funding. (There was $19 million in the current state budget that's been impounded to deal with the deficit.)

Also, the Senate State Government Committee meets next Monday, meaning the committee that would have considered the bill could have without slowing down the legislation's floor vote.

Currently, the next Assembly voting session is set for Feb. 5. The next Senate session is Feb. 23. The reason those dates are important in relation to the voting machine bill is that under state law as its currently in effect, all election machines must provide a paper trail. Elections this week in Bound Brook, Pompton Plains and Rumson are using leased machines equipped with printers. The next elections are set for Feb. 21 in towns with fire districts ... meaning those elections are apparently going to have to have paper trails, even if lawmakers decide to side with Gov. Jon Corzine and extend the retrofit deadline.


Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 5

Trending Articles