Paper Ballot Controversy-Sky Arnold

Democrats say Tre Hargett is trying to obstruct voting rights.

The complaints come from the Secretary's opinion that Tennessee may not be able to vote with paper ballots next year.

It's known as an electric voting machine.

Bernie Ellis, a supporter of paper ballots, says, "We have the potential to poison and deform democracy."

But Bernie Ellis calls it a potential disaster.

Ellis says, "If Tennessee were using optical scan equipment and paper ballots that's 20 years old it would still be more secure...reliable and verifiable than the most up to date touch screens can do."

As a member of gathering to save our democracy, Ellis has been fighting to ditch electronic machines for paper ballots.

Lawmakers agreed to do that by 2010 but the new Secretary of State says it may not be possible.

Secretary of State Tre Hargett says, "There are no machines that look like they will be certified in time for us to implement this law."

Tre Hargett says so far no companies are certified to meet the 2005 federal guidelines lawmakers mandated in
switching to paper ballot machines.

He says the state may now have to hold off buying equipment until the 2012
elections.

Hargett says, "I certainly don't know it's a wise use of taxpayer dollars when you know better technology is on the way to spend 25 million dollars on equipment that's soon to be outdated."

It's an opinion that has the Democratic Party in an uproar.

Chair Chip Forrester says, "The general assembly needs to fire him."

Forrester says Hargett has the ability to switch to paper ballots by purchasing equipment that meets 2002 guidelines, instead of the 2005 ones.

Forrester believes the Secretary is refusing to do so to effect elections.

Forrester says, "We've seen a pervasive pattern of managing the election process and we're concerned that with this equipment in place now we're not gonna get fair and accurate elections in 2010."

Allegations the Secretary of State says aren't true, and he points to this legislative attorney opinion for proof.

It says the state can only buy equipment that meets the 2005 guidelines.

Equipment that may not be available in time to replace these machines.

If no companies are certified to make the machines in time, Hargett says he'll ask the General Assembly to hold off buying machines until 2012.

A similar request passed the state House last session but failed in the Senate.Paper Ballot Controversy-Sky Arnold