Arguments Heard in Suit Over Voting Machines
A federal judge Monday heard pretrial arguments in a lawsuit that seeks to force California officials to install updated voting equipment.
The suit, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, alleges that Secretary of State Bill Jones is responsible for a disproportionate number of poor-performing voting machines in counties with more minorities.
Deputy Atty. Gen. Douglas J. Woods argued on Jones’ behalf that the case should be quashed before its January trial date because the selection of voting machines is a county, not a state, responsibility. ACLU lawyers want Jones to decertify punch-card ballot machines and mandate the use of more accurate equipment such as touch-screen voting machines.
ACLU lawyers maintain that punch-card ballot machines were used by 53.4% of California voters in November, but that those machines accounted for 74.8% of ballot errors statewide. U.S. District Judge Stephen V. Wilson is expected to rule shortly on the state’s motion to end the case.
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