Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer on Nov. 3 announced a contract agreement with a Nebraska electronics firm for ballot-marking machines for the disabled. Though counties are not required to purchase the machines, Kiffmeyer argues the Election Systems and Software Automark ballot-marking machines are available at a good price. The base price of $4886 per machine is cheaper than the prices the smaller states of North Dakota, South Dakota, and Iowa were able to negotiate with the company, according to the Secretary of Stateís Office. All polling places must have a voting machine for use by the disabled by 2006, Kiffmeyer said. ìIt is our expectation that this will be a funded mandate,î Kiffmeyer said of new voting equipment the stateís 3500 polling places must have in place by next year under the federal Help America Vote Act. Minnesota has received $35 million in federal funding to fulfill the requirements of the act, and the funding has been passed through to the counties. ó Tim Budig, ECM Capitol Reporter

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