Section 4.1 - Voting Equipment
This topic is monitored by Moritz Law Professor Daniel Tokaji. For up-to-date news and commentary on voting technology, the Help America Vote Act, and other voting equality issues, see Professor Tokaji's Equal Vote Blog.
Summary of State HAVA Plans
This entry summarizes the 50 states’ Help America Vote Act implementation plans, in the area of voting equipment. The section labeled “current” indicates the type of equipment used at the time of the HAVA plan’s submission, while the section labeled “proposed” indicates the type of equipment to which the state planned to convert. The final section indicates the amount, either in dollars or the percentage of HAVA payments received, that the state planned to devote toward new voting equipment.
Alabama
Current: 53 counties (precinct-level tabulation optical scan); 10 (central tabulation optical scan); 3 DRE; 1 lever machine; never used punch cards
Proposed: Replace mechanical lever voting machines in Bullock county; replace or modify voting machines in Mobile, Montgomery, and DeKalb counties; replace centralized ballot counting systems in 9 counties; DRE requirement
Amount: $23,000,000 allocated
Alaska
Current: 163 precincts (hand count paper ballots); 283 (optical scan paper ballots [Accu-Vote OS 2000]); no DREs
Proposed: Continue to expand the use of the optical scan voting system in hand count precincts; DRE requirement
Amount: $4,500,000 allocated
Arizona
Current: 9 counties (punch cards); 6 counties (no info)
Proposed: Replace punch card voting systems in 9 counties; DRE requirement
Amount: Approximately 56% of funds
Arkansas
Current: 5 counties (DREs); 46 (central tabulation optical scan); 3 (precinct-level optical scan); 8 (hand count paper ballots); 13 (lever machines or punch cards)
Proposed: Replace lever machines or punch card systems with DREs; replace all systems with DRE if federal funding sufficient
Amount: $12,000,000-20,000,000 estimated, depending on federal funds
California
Current: 3 categories of systems: optical scan, DRE/touchscreen, punch card
Proposed: Replace punch card voting systems; DRE requirement; consider decertifying paper-based systems
Amount: Funds from HAVA as well as up to $200,000,000 in general obligation bonds authorized by the state; funds to be allocated by Secretary of State
Colorado
Current: Systems: paper ballots, central count optical scan, precinct count optical scan, punch card; only 1 county continues to utilize punch cards, but will probably opt for another voting system
Proposed: Already meets/will meet requirements; DRE requirement
Amount: $10,100,000 allocated
Connecticut
Current: 3 municipalities (optical scan); 166 (lever machines)
Proposed: Actively considering upgrading lever machines; replacement of all lever machines delayed by insufficient federal funding; DRE requirement
Amount: $20,500,000 estimated
Delaware
Current: DREs [ELECTronic 1242 (model 6T)]
Proposed: Replaced punch card and lever machine in 1996 with DREs; DRE requirement (DREs that meet accessibility requirement)
Amount: $5,700,000 estimated
Florida
Current: Already replaced punch cards, lever machines, paper ballots, and central count optical scan systems with precinct tabulated Marksense voting systems or DREs; 15 counties (DREs); 52 (precinct level optical scan)
Proposed: DRE requirement
Amount: $11,740,000 from Sec. 102 for punch-card buyouts ($24 million was spent by state), $11,600,000 expected to be spent on DREs
Georgia
Current: 159 counties (DREs [Diebold])
Proposed: Meets all requirements, including DRE requirement
Amount: Funds already expended, $53,900,000, to replace voting systems
Hawaii
Current: All precincts use precinct level optical scan [ES&S Model 100])
Proposed: DRE requirement
Amount: Approximately 8,000,000 allocated
Idaho
Current: 16 counties (paper ballot); 14 (optical scan); 14 (punch card)
Proposed: Provide excess funds on optional grant program to upgrade systems; DRE requirement
Amount: No info
Illinois
Current: 90 counties (punch card); 2 (precinct-level punch card [PBC 2100]); 10 (precinct level optical scan [Accu-Vote]); 3 (precinct level optical scan [Optical Scan M100]); 3 (Marksense Optech IV-C); 2 (Marksense Optech III-PE)
Proposed: Replace punch cards; voter education if counties decide to retain central count systems; DRE requirement
Amount: $42,000,000 allocated
Indiana
Current: 32 counties (punch card and lever machine); 60 counties (other systems)
Proposed: Replace punch cards and lever machines; DRE requirement
Amount: Will set aside $39,200,000 to reimburse counties
Iowa
Current: 6 counties (lever machines); 1 (paper ballots); 59 (central count optical scan); 18 (precinct count optical scan); 15 (DRE)
Proposed: Replace lever machines; DRE requirement
Amount: $42,000,000 estimated
Kansas
Current: 81 counties (optical scan); 21 (hand count paper ballots); 3 (DRE); punch card and lever machines are not used
Proposed: Voter education to make paper ballot and central count optical scan systems compliant; DRE requirement
Amount: No info
Kentucky
Current: 96 counties (ELECTronic 1242 DRE); 17 (MicroVote MV-464 DRE); 1 (ACCU-VOTE ES Optical Scan Tabulation); 1 (lever machines); 5 (mechanical lever machines and MicroVote MV-464)
Proposed: Replace lever machines; DRE requirement
Amount: Approximately $18,200,000 estimated
Louisiana
Current: 50 parishes (AVM-POM lever machines); 14 (electronic voting machines [AVC Advantage and iVotronic])
Proposed: Replace lever machines; DRE requirement
Amount: Estimated 91.8% of federal funds received
Maine
Current: 394 municipalities (hand counted paper ballots); 109 municipalities (precinct level optical scan ballots [Accu-Vote ES-2000 (36 municipalities)]; [Optech IIIP (47 municipalities)]; [Optech IIIP Eagle (24 municipalities)]; [ES&S Model 100 (2 municipalities)])
Proposed: Modify current machines; DRE requirement
Amount: Estimated $5,000,000-10,000,000
Maryland
Current: 4 systems: Optical Scan (ES&S Optech III-P Eagle and Diebold Model ES-2000) and DRE (Diebold AccuVote TS and Sequoia AVC Advantage)
Proposed: In the process of meeting requirements; DRE requirement
Amount: $57,500,000 allocated
Massachusetts
Current: 392 precincts (lever machines); 11 (Datavote systems); 1665 (optical scan [Accu-Vote (1042 precincts), Optech (176 precincts), and Optech Eagle (447 precincts)]); 90 (paper ballots)
Proposed: Replace lever machines and Datavote machines; DRE requirement
Amount: 100% of Sec. 102 monies & 15% of Title II monies
Michigan
Current: 445 precincts (lever machines); 98 (paper ballots); 866 (central count punch cards); the rest of the 5,405 total precincts use either DRE or precinct level optical scan
Proposed: Replace punch cards and lever machines; DRE requirement
Amount: Estimated $55,000,000 to be allocated
Minnesota
Current: 7 counties (hand count paper ballots); 24 (central count optical scan); 14 (precinct tabulator optical scan); 42 (mixed systems) TABLE AVAILABLE ON SPECIFIC SYSTEMS
Proposed: Implement a uniform, statewide voting system with locally-owned, precinct-based, optical scan equipment; DRE requirement
Amount: No info
Mississippi
Current: 8 jurisdictions (lever systems); 11 (punch cards); 1 (Opscan [combination OMR and punch card]); 8 (precinct level optical mark reader systems);51 (central optical mark reader systems); 1 (DRE); 2 (Shouptronic systems)
Proposed: Replace all non-DRE voting devices with DREs, if full federal funding
Amount: Plans to spend approximately $15,000,000 in federal funds
Missouri
Current: 9 counties (hand count paper ballots); 37 (punch cards); 70 (optical scan)
Proposed: Replace punch cards; DRE requirement
Amount: Unclear
Montana
Current: 6 counties (punch cards); 45 (optical scan); 5 (paper ballots)
Proposed: Replace punch cards in 5 counties (1 county already replaced their system after the 2000 election); DRE requirement
Amount: Approximately $3,100,000 allocated
Nebraska
Current: Two methods: hand counting of paper ballots and central optical scan system for paper ballots (no breakdown by counties)
Proposed: DRE requirement
Amount: Approximately $5,300,000 allocated
Nevada
Current: 7 counties (punch cards); 9 (optical scan); 1 (DRE)
Proposed: Replace all punch cards and optical scan systems with DREs, if sufficient funding; DRE requirement
Amount: Approximately $8,500,000 allocated
New Hampshire
Current: 162 polling places (optical scan [Optech IIIP (39); Accuvote OS ES-2000 (123)]); 147 (hand count paper ballots)
Proposed: Replaced punch cards in 1986; DRE requirement
Amount: 25% of available funds to be allocated
New Jersey
Current: 7 counties (lever machines); 14 (no info)
Proposed: Replace lever machines and upgrade other systems; 2 counties replaced punch cards in 2001; DRE requirement
Amount: To be determined, estimated $39,000,000 for complete upgrade
New Mexico
Current: DRE and optical scan (no info on number of counties)
Proposed: Already replaced punch card and lever machines; begin replacing older systems; DRE requirement
Amount: Initial $5,000,000 in Title II funds to be used for DRE purchases
New York
Current: All 62 counties (lever machines)
Proposed: Replace lever machines (19,843 systems); DRE requirement
Amount: $140,000,000 total budgeted
North Carolina
Current: 8 counties (punch card); 5 (lever machines)
Proposed: Replace punch card and lever machines; DRE requirement
Amount: $37,200,000 allocated
North Dakota
Current: 44 counties (optical scan); 8 (hand count paper ballots); 1 (punch card)
Proposed: Replace punch card system in Williams county; DRE requirement
Amount: Estimated $5,000,000-6,000,000
Ohio
Current: 69 counties (punch cards); 2 (lever machines); 6 (electronic voting devices); 11 (optical scan)
Proposed: Replace punch card and lever machines, if sufficient funding; DRE requirement
Amount: Estimated $136,000,000
Oklahoma
Current: 4 counties (optical scan); No info on other counties
Proposed: Upgrade current systems; replace all precinct level and central count devices in largest counties; DRE requirement
Amount: $33,400,000 allocated
Oregon
Current: 3 counties (punch cards); 33 (optical scan)
Proposed: Replace punch cards; DRE requirement; additional DREs, if funding available
Amount: $3,550,000 allocated
Pennsylvania
Current: 5 counties (paper ballots); 24 (lever machines); 11 (punch cards); 24 (central count optical scan); 8 (DRE)
Proposed: Replace punch cards and lever machines; upgrade other systems; encourage DREs or, if not DREs, then encourage precinct level optical scan; DRE requirement
Amount: Approximately $23,000,000 under Sec. 102 funds. State will fully reimburse DRE purchases, part for other machines.
Rhode Island
Current: All 39 cities (precinct level optical scan [Optech III-PE])
Proposed: Replaced entire system in 1998 with optical scan; 2 DREs per precinct
Amount: Approximately $7,000,000 allocated for DRE purchases.
South Carolina
Current: 24 counties (DRE); 10 (punch cards); 12 (MarkSense optical scan system)
Proposed: Replace all machines with a statewide uniform electronic voting system (no info on which system); DRE requirement
Amount: $36,600,000 allocated
South Dakota
Current: Precinct level and central count optical scan; hand count paper ballots, punch cards (no info on number of counties)
Proposed: Utilize precinct level and central count optical scan ballots, hand count paper ballots, and DREs; DRE requirement
Amount: Approximately $7,700,000 allocated
Tennessee
Current: 41 counties (DREs [Electronic Danaher or Microvote]); 11 (optical scan [ESS Central Count and ESS Precinct Count]); 43 (punch cards or lever machines)
Proposed: Replace punch cards and lever machines; probably upgrade from central count to precinct level optical scan systems; DRE requirement
Amount: $19,500,000 allocated
Texas
Current: 90 counties (hand count paper ballot); 150 (optical scan); 14 (punch cards); 3 (lever machines); 4 (DRE)
Proposed: Replace punch cards and lever machines; DRE requirement
Amount: $31,800,000 allocated
Utah
Current: 23 counties (punch cards); 2 (optical scan); 4 (hand count paper ballots)
Proposed: Replace punch cards with DREs; DRE requirement
Amount: $20,500,000 allocated
Vermont
Current: 184 municipalities (hand count paper ballots); 62 (optical scan)
Proposed: Propose one type of optical scan system; towns will be permitted to continue use of hand count paper ballot; DRE requirement
Amount: $6,650,000 allocated
Virginia
Current: 28 precincts (hand count paper ballots); 493 (optical scan); 1065 (lever machines); 275 (punch cards); 416 (DRE)
Proposed: Replace punch cards and lever machines; DRE requirement
Amount: $33,100,000 allocated
Washington
Current: 16 counties (punch cards); 23 (optical scan); 1 (mixed [optical scan and DRE])
Proposed: Replace punch cards; DRE requirement; note: WA encourages absentee voting/voting by mail
Amount: $15,700,000 allocated
West Virginia
Current: 10 counties (hand count paper ballots); 3 (lever machines); 12 (punch cards); 29 (optical scan); 1 (DRE)
Proposed: Replace punch cards and lever machines; DRE requirement
Amount: Estimated $16,500,000 allocated
Wisconsin
Current: 87% of voters (optical scan); 10% (hand count paper ballots); 3% (lever machines); NOTE: also mentions that 3 counties used punch cards in 2000 election
Proposed: Develop voter education for central count optical scan counties and paper ballots; replace lever machines; reimburse for replacement of punch cards; DRE requirement
Amount: $16,400,000 allocated
Wyoming
Current: 3 counties (lever machines); 5 (punch cards); 6 (central count optical scan); 8 (precinct level optical scan); 1 (DRE)
Proposed: Replace punch cards, central count optical scan systems, lever machines, and the Guardian Electronic 1242 DRE system; DRE requirement
Amount: No info
D.C.
Current: 142 precincts (Optical scan voting systems [Optech Eagle P III])
Proposed: Meets requirements; DRE requirement will be met by 2004 [Sequoia Edge DRE]
Amount: $1,700,000 allocated
Puerto Rico
Current: All voters use hand count paper ballots
Proposed: Probably replace the current system, but no decision
Amount: No info
Sources of Information
- Voting System Information - Congressional Record/State Web Sites
- Funding Information - http://www.civilrights.org/issues/voting/hava_chart.pdf
PDF files in this site may require