By Jim Drinkard, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Repairs to the nation's voting system, already long overdue, are likely to remain uncompleted by the 2006 congressional elections, top state election officials warn.
Hampered by delays in federal guidance and local political complications, officials say the lag could lead to problems in next year's voting. They also fear being penalized for missing deadlines to revamp their voting systems under a 2002 law that has doled out $2.2 billion so far to help them replace antiquated voting machines and improve voter-registration systems.
"We are behind the eight ball here," says Rebecca Vigil-Giron, New Mexico's secretary of state and president of the National Association of Secretaries of State. "Most of the states will not be in compliance with those deadlines."
The Help America Vote Act called for the changes to be in place by Jan. 1, 2004. But 44 states couldn't make that deadline and took advantage of a waiver that extended the time until Jan. 1, 2006.
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