DRE's go down in flames in Buncombe Co. (Asheville)

[Kelvin Mace]

Asheville Citizen
http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060607/NEWS01/60606073/1010

Buncombe County voters will cast their ballots using optical scan machines when they go to the polls in November.

County commissioners Tuesday approved a recommendation from the Board of Elections to purchase the new voting system.

The county also will return touch-screen machines used during the primary and runoff, and will instead use Automark machines for those with disabilities.

“I think what is best for the (election) workers and what is best for the voters is one system,” Trena Parker, elections director told members of the Elections Board on Tuesday.

The county is working to comply with a new state law that requires a paper trail that voters can verify when they cast their ballots.

Election Board members originally recommended the county purchase touch-screen machines, but county commissioners rejected that recommendation.

Commissioner Carol Peterson predicted the optical scan system would boost voter confidence and voter turnout.

“I hope you’re right about turnout,” Jones Byrd, chairman of the Elections Board told Peterson. “I really do.”

The state is now 76% OpScan, which is a severe drubbing for the pro-BBV election officials.

I would encourage all the folks in NC to call or write the Buncombe Co. Commissioners and thank them for listening to their constituents.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

1. thank YOU and about the DREs

Thanks to Kelvin Mace who traveled across the state to speak at a
DFA event in the Western Region.

That is what it took to solidify the activists in their focus -
they got to work right away with their county commissioners,
gently nudging, working one on one, calling, lobbying,
attending the county commissioners and BOE meetings,

This was a complete turnaround for this county.

They were set to be a 100% DRE county.
They have been a 100% DRE county for 9 years at least.

This is a major coup, because so few of our counties have touchscreens, that
they can't whine about how hard it is to recount the toilet paper roll.
Because the DRE counties are in the minority.

Additionally - the county had purchased 85 DRES and used them during the
primary. They are going to sell them and get rid of them.

They want a simpler system.