Wayne sells voting machines

By TOM KANE

HONESDALE, PA - Wayne County has a large number of electronic voting machines on their hands that they can’t use. About 100 machines, in fact.

The WINvote DRE voting machines were purchased in 2004 from Advanced Voting Solutions of Orefield, PA with funding through the federal Help America Voting Act (HAVA). Because the company had not gotten federal certification for required software upgrades, the machines were decertified. The machines were used in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

In accordance with the Pennsylvania Department of State guidelines, the commissioners sought permission from the HAVA Division of the Pennsylvania Department of State to sell the machines, which would bring to the county coffers about $30,000. In a similar action that same day, the commissioners moved to sell the machines to the Electronic Services Online, LLC in Quakertown, PA, pending approval by the state.

The county is not required to return the money; it can be used to enhance any future equipment that may be used in elections.

The de-certification also affected Lackawanna and Northampton counties.