Becca Vargo Daggett: Can we stick with optical scanners and use IRV? My understanding is that San Francisco had significant problems implementing IRV because of voting machine and paper audit trail issues.
Response: The short answer to this is yes we can continue to use optical scan machines. That is what San Francisco did and what would likely be done here if implemented. Upgrades to the machine firmware would be necessary and the good news is that the next generation of ES&S optical scan machines includes this capability. According to Susanne Griffin, Director of Elections in Minneapolis, our current voting equipment (E S & S Model 100) is not able to count votes using the ranked system with its current firmware, but ES&S is developing the next generation of optical scan equipment which WILL include the ability to handle ranked voting. The new version will be able to count both ranked voted ballots and ballots marked the way we are currently marking them at the same time (the same election), and would include upgraded versions of accumulation and reporting capabilities as well. Minneapolis leases the voting equipment from Hennepin County, which has a contract for the current equipment through 2006. This timing may provide an opportunity for purchasing new equipment. Jeanne Massey Kingfield REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
