Florida subpoenas voting machine companies

Tampa Bay's 10 News; March 29, 2006

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (AP) — The Florida Attorney General's Office has issued investigative subpoenas to the three companies certified to sell voting machines in Florida.

Attorney General Charlie Crist is reviewing a dispute between the firms and Leon County's elections supervisor.

Diebold Election Systems, Election Systems and Software and Sequoia Voting Systems have refused to sell equipment to let disabled voters cast ballots without help in Leon County. Elections supervisor Ion Sancho has been outspoken about his concern that the devices can be easily manipulated to change race outcomes.

The companies' refusal has left Leon County, the home of the state Capitol, in violation of the federal Help America Vote Act.

Crist wants to see copies of documents relating to sales of voting machines by the companies in Florida since January 2003. Crist's office began the investigation in early February.

A spokesman for the elections division at Diebold says they haven't seen it, but will review it. Officials at Sequoia and E,S and S haven't returned messages seeking comment.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)