Indiana machines count straight-party Dem votes as Libertarian

Ooops! Optical scan equipment...nine counties...but don’t worry—it’s just
another ’glitch.’ Big brother is looking out for your interests....

http://www.indystar.com/articles/3/193880-4433-093.html

Glitch causes Franklin Co. recount

Star report
November 11, 2004

BROOKVILLE, Ind. - Election equipment counted straight-party votes for
Democratic candidates as Libertarian votes, an error that could affect election
outcomes in as many as nine counties, the Richmond Palladium-Item reported
today.

Democrats discovered the error in Franklin County, where ballots will be
counted again tonight.

The county’s election equipment vendor, Fidlar, notified officials Wednesday
of the error.

Libertarian candidates received 7 to 8 percent of the votes in Franklin
County, which is about 30 miles south of Richmond.

Franklin County Democratic Chairman Jim Sauerland questioned Clerk Marlene
Flashpohler on Tuesday about the results after seeing information on the final
tally he couldn’t decipher, Flashpohler said. That’s when Flashpohler
contacted Fidlar, who agreed Wednesday there was an error.

The Franklin County Election Board agreed at an emergency meeting today to
recanvass the ballots tonight. Noon Friday is the deadline to contest the
election results.

Republican Chairman Bob Jewell said he has concerns about the procedures
used when the error was discovered. He’s hoping the deadline for contesting the
election can be extended because of the Veterans Day holiday today. No party
or state election officials can be contacted today for advice, he said.
"Hopefully (the recanvassing) won’t change the outcome of the election,"
Jewell said.

Fidlar has optical scan machines in nine Indiana counties, including two in
the 9th Congressional District, where Democrat Baron Hill was narrowly
defeated.

Flashpohler said Fidlar officials have said Franklin County is the only
county where a database error occurred.

Sincerely,

Daniel P. Welch

http://www.indystar.com/articles/3/193880-4433-093.html