Article: Md. House Approves Paper Ballots; Senate Support Uncertain for Switch for Sept. Primary

The Maryland House of Delegates unanimously passed legislation yesterday to ditch the state's touch-screen voting machines for the coming election in favor of a system that uses paper ballots.

The 137 to 0 vote in the House and the endorsement of the plan this week by Republican Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. represents a stunning turnaround for a state that was on the leading edge of touch- screen voting in 2001, and it reflects a national shift toward machines that provide a paper record.

The touch-screen system, for which Maryland has committed more than $90 million, would be put aside for one year while the state spends at least $13 million to lease optical scan machines.

"It's critically ...

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