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Elections Boss Favors Voting System Firm That Was Diebold

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By ELLEN GEDALIUS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 14, 2008

TAMPA - The elections supervisor is recommending that Premier Election Solutions be given a $6 million contract to provide voting machines for Hillsborough County elections.

Texas-based Premier formerly was called Diebold Election Systems. Diebold has been a source of controversy through the years, mostly for perceived security flaws in its voting systems.

Kathy Harris, the attorney for Hillsborough County's elections office, said Premier offers updated equipment and software. The company was recertified by the state, she said, and "passed with flying colors."

Elections Supervisor Buddy Johnson said in a statement that the company has more than 16 years of experience holding elections in Florida. The optical scan machines will provide a ballot paper trail, as required by a new state law.

The machines should be ready for Plant City voters in their April municipal election. Voters across Hillsborough County will use them in the Aug. 26 primary and Nov. 4 general election.

Johnson plans to ask county commissioners on Feb. 20 to approve the contract.

Dominion Voting Systems, Elections Systems & Software and Sequoia Voting Systems also bid on the contract. A committee of elections staff, county officials and a representative of the American Civil Liberties Union evaluated the proposals.

Premier was not the lowest bidder. Sequoia, the lowest bidder, didn't offer what the county was looking for in terms of voting machines for the disabled. Dominion, the next lowest bidder, isn't certified by the state, Harris said.

The old voting machines likely will be stripped for parts.

Reporter Ellen Gedalius can be reached at (813) 259-7679 or egedalius@tampatrib.com.

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