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Sec. of state cautions voting machine firms

April M. Washington, Rocky Mountain News

Published August 30, 2007 at midnight

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Colorado Secretary of State Mike Coffman warned suppliers of electronic voting equipment that their machines would be banned in the 2008 election unless they provide the necessary information needed to retest the equipment.

Coffman charged that Premier Election Solutions, Hart InterCivic, ES&S and Sequoia have been slow to provide documentation, hardware and other information needed to retest and certify voting machines, as required by state law.

In a letter sent Wednesday to the four vendors, Coffman threatened to decertify the machines and bar their use if the vendors fail to fully cooperate.

"Despite repeated demands since the beginning of this process, to this day we have still not received all of the information from each of the vendors that we need to complete testing," Coffman said in a statement.

The deadline for vendors to comply is Nov. 16.

A spokesman for Premier Election Solutions said the vendor is mystified by Coffman's terse letter, contending that it is fully cooperating.

"We are surprised to hear that there is a belief that we have not been responsive," said Chris Riggall, spokesman for Premier, based in Allen, Texas. "First of all, we have been and will continue to make every possible effort to cooperate with the secretary of state."

ES&S spokeswoman Amanda Brown echoed that sentiment. "In Colorado, we have worked extensively with the secretary of state's staff to provide the information requested."

Coffman's office must test and certify all new voting equipment purchased by counties after May, 28, 2004, to ensure the machines meet state standards for security and accuracy.

In 2006, former Secretary of State Gigi Dennis was sued by a group of 13 residents who alleged that the testing process was flawed and failed to prove that the electronic voting equipment was secure and accurate.

The group sought an injunction on further use of the machines until they could be retested. A judge denied the request but ordered that all previously certified equipment must be retested prior to the next primary, general or statewide ballot issue election.

There are no statewide ballot issues this November. Counties and cities are having elections, but most are using mail ballots, not voting machines.

Coffman said the "threat is real" and his offices will develop a contingency plan for counties for the 2008 general election if the four vendors fail to act.

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