The Leon County Commission voted unanimously to approve a request by elections supervisor Ion Sancho to swap in new optical-scan devices from Omaha-based Election Systems & Software Inc. (ES&S).

Sancho said the US$1.2 million cost of changing systems is well justified. "To prove to voters that their votes are all counted as they intended them to be counted, yes, it's worth it," he said.

Sancho said the primary reason for ditching the Diebold machines is his lack of confidence in the accuracy of their touch-screen systems, which would have to be installed to ensure access for users with disabilities.

The county would need the Diebold touch-screen systems to comply with the federal Help America Vote Act and Florida state election laws. The HAVA statutes dictate that every precinct have a touch-screen or specially equipped optical-scan device that allows blind voters and other disabled people to cast their ballots unaided.

ES&S offers specialized optical-scan systems that are handicapped accessible.