Elections Administrator Linda Lamone told the committee that not only would it cost the state millions - $65 million in the upcoming fiscal year, in fact - to go back to an optical scan system, but there just isn't time to do it this year.
"I have tried very hard not to come before you and tell you something can't be done, but these changes are not administratively feasible by September 2006," she said. If the legislature forces changes this year, she said, "you will put the election - your election - next fall in jeopardy." Implementing a new election would take 18 to 24 months of lead-in time to acquire the machines, train staff and poll workers - and train voters, she said. Trying to change systems now would bring "administrative havoc that could have serious consequences for the 2006 election," she said. |