Late last year, the county was on the verge of signing a contract to buy HAVA-compliant optical scan machines from Election Systems and Software Inc. but the vendor pulled out of the deal at the last minute. At the time, ES&S declined to disclose a reason for its move but said it came "after a great deal of careful consideration."

The company had turned to ES&S after rejecting a proposal by Diebold Election Systems Inc. because of concerns that the Diebold election equipment might not meet federal guidelines and because of concerns about the accuracy of Diebold's touch-screen systems.

Sancho said there wasn't enough time to reach an agreement with another vendor before the deadline once ES&S pulled out of its informal deal with the county.

"The main problem we have had was the failure of ES&S to sell us the equipment its Florida reps had promised they were going to sell us," said Sancho. "As soon as ES&S withdrew the agreement, the state swept away the money. It's been inconvenient and stressful."

Sancho said the county is once again in talks with Diebold as well as with Oakland, Calif.-based Sequoia Voting Systems to buy handicapped-accessible touch-screen systems. The county hopes to have compliant systems installed by May 1.