Judge Denies Injuction In Paper Ballot Case
Secretary Of State Should Begin To Implement Voter Confidence Act, Recommends Judge
POSTED: 5:37 am CST November 5,
2009
UPDATED: 6:07 pm CST November 5,
2009
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A Nashville judge on Thursday denied at temporary injunction regarding paper ballot voting machines, which won't force the secretary of state to buy the new machines.
However, Davidson County Chancellor Russell Perkins said he recommended Secretary of State Tre Hargett to start implementing the Voter Confidence Act, which was passed by the state Legislature in 2008 and mandated every voter cast his or her ballot using an optical-scan machine by November 2010.Thursday's hearing was in response to a lawsuit filed by Common Cause of Tennessee that hoped to force the secretary of state's office to buy the optical-scan machines.The machines that are currently used are electronic and don't have a paper trail if a recount is needed.The Legislature gave the go-ahead to buy the machines, but the secretary of state's office said the machines will put a strain on county budgets.Tennessee Coordinator of Elections Mark Goins released the following statement on Thursday:"My office has been very clear that we are going to make a deliberate, well thought-out acquisition. We are going to get it right. Unfortunately, this lawsuit has stalled our efforts to seek paper ballot machines certified to the strongest standards."Lawmakers could vote to delay paper ballots until 2012 when they return to session in January.
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Previous Stories:
- October 22, 2009: Judge May Force State To Provide Voting Paper Trail
- August 25, 2009: Paper Ballots Put State In No-Win Situation
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