GLITCH IN OPTICAL VOTE MACHINES DISCOVERED - Calhoun's Computer Machines "Have Been Good"

(10/15/2008)
There's a problem with West Virginia's optical scanning voting machines, being used by 18 counties.

Calhoun switched to computerized voting machines, but once used the optical machines.

Calhoun County Clerk Richard Kirby says "So far the tests on three computerized machines for early voting have been good."

A final test for the remaining machines will happen on October 28th, Kirby said, with county commissioners and other officials attending.

Kirby says "We have continued to print paper ballots just in case there is a malfunction, but so far the computerized machines have proven accurate and reliable."

A programming glitch in the optical machines is forcing election officials to retest in those 18 counties on the eve of the general election.

The machines, unless corrected, could have resulted in incorrect results for at least one state race.

Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper said a clerk in Hampshire County discovered the error late last week and informed the secretary of state's office.

The problem is being corrected.