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UPDATE: Even the Texas GOP may be moving against electronic voting machines. 

Yesterday, Paul Schmelzer of Eyeteeh posted a solid analysis of Election Systems & Software (ES&S) the company that Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer has chosen to provide voting machines for 83 of Minnesota’s 87 counties. Schmelezer called into question the political neutrality of ES&S and also gave a detailed list of problems the voting machines have been encountering in multiple states.

Today, more problems surrounding ES&S were uncovered, this time in Indiana: (emphasis added)

A Nebraska company whose voting equipment led to numerous problems during Indiana’s May primary has agreed to pay the state $245,000 and provide extra hands-on and technical support this fall.

In exchange, the state decided not to pursue formal charges or claims against the company, Election Systems & Software, which has denied any wrongdoing.

ES&S was accused of not setting up the machines properly, “causing difficulties when it came time to open up the polls and count the ballot. Other jurisdictions said they were forced to miss deadlines because the company was late in delivering the final layout of ballots.”

The final analysis of ES&S’s performance?

“The primary election was a disaster for this company,” said Johnson County Clerk Jill Jackson.

Marion County Clerk Doris Anne Sadler said county officials would continue on their own to pursue compensation from ES&S because of primary setbacks. The county complained about the company in 2004. Sadler said things have changed little since then. “There’s a serious problem with this company,” she said. “Their performance (in the primary) was absolutely abysmal.”

One county clerk in Indiana said that ES&S has turned around completely since the primary.

In my opinion, actions speak louder than words and I don’t want to have to hope that ES&S will be able to get their act together.

A company that had serious problems seven months before a general election should not be given the keys to 83 out of 87 counties in Minnesota. Meanwhile, “Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer expresses confidence about the full-scale electronic vote counting.”

What do you think?