State Contemplates Voting Machines with Troubled Track Record

The New York State Board of Elections may approve a voting machine with a troubled track record. 

The State is testing the Express Vote XL from Election Software & Systems. The machine uses a touchscreen and marks the ballot FOR the voter. But the machines were used in a Pennsylvania judicial election last year where thousands of votes weren't counted due to mechanical error.

Advocates say New York needs a higher standard.

"To be sure [the machines] are minimally hackable and that the vote will reflect the intent of the voter so that they can be cast and accurately counted is to have hand-marked paper ballot," said Susan Lerner, head of Common Cause New York.

A spokeswoman for ES&S said the machines use layers of security and have been approved by the federal government.

Read the rest of Brigid's story on Gothamist.com