Sour Grapes For Napa e-Voting

Sequoia officials are insisting the machines were not faulty and that human error led to the discrepancy in recorded votes. Apparently, the optical scan machines can read carbon-based ink but not gel pens. But ink is only a small problem plaguing e-voting machines. Several technology experts, voting rights groups, and state and federal legislators have expressed concern over e-voting and touch-screen election systems because of security risks and lack of paper trail from many models. California law reportedly requires a hand recount of paper ballots, which the Sequoia machines produce.

As for Napa, the ballot review could have serious repercussions; one county supervisor narrowly lost his re-election bid by about 50 votes. Sequoia's e-voting systems were successfully used in other counties last year for the California recall election. Maybe Gray Davis should ask for a recount.