Ohio Counties that could get electronic machines down to four

A federal mandate to replace punch-card voting machines with electronic devices has fizzled to the point that only four of Ohio's 88 counties will consider the idea for the Nov. 2 election, the secretary of state's office said Thursday. The four counties - Hardin, Lorain, Mercer and Trumbull - must decide after the state completes a test of the machines, made by North Canton-based Diebold Inc. [more]

• The head of Diebold is a fundraiser for Bush. Last August he stated that he was "committed to helping Ohio deliver its electoral votes to the President next year." [more]