Bill would force election changes

Federal legislation making its way through Congress could force area counties to scrap their new electronic voting machines in favor of verifiable paper ballots for all federal elections -- starting with the 2008 presidential race.

House Bill 811 would change the face of the federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA). If passed, the legislation would drastically affect counties, including Potter and Cameron, which recently began using the new electronic machines to be in compliance with HAVA guidelines.

HB811 would also force counties to pay an outside entity to conduct a hand recount of between three and 100 percent of ballots in nearly every federal election before the outcome can be certified.

Congressman John Peterson opposes the measure. Peterson said while it's important that the integrity of an election is upheld, states should be given time to enact any changes coming from the federal level.

The National Assn. of Counties and County Commissioners Assn. of Pa. are fighting the proposal.