By Andrew Welsh-Huggins
The Associated Press

COLUMBUS - Some counties say it's too late to switch to electronic voting machines by November despite approval Monday to release millions in federal funding to provide the technology.

Butler is among 31 counties statewide and the only one in Southwest Ohio hoping to install electronic voting machines in time for the November election.

But that's looking unlikely because the county board of elections wants a voter-verified paper trail - not yet available in Ohio.

Both Butler and Warren counties picked AccuVote, a touch-screen voting system made by Texas-based Diebold Election Systems. The California Secretary of State's Office decertified Diebold voting systems last week because of several concerns, including the company's installation of unapproved software.

"We made a decision because we were told we were supposed to make one," said Dan Gattermeyer, chairman of Butler's Board of Elections. "If we could get a paper trail, I think people's fears would be allayed."

A House bill close to passage would require the voter-verifiable auditing system. About $127 million in federal money to pay for replacing the state's punch card ballots did not include the cost for voter paper receipts. The state Controlling Board on Monday approved spending $38 million on machines and voter education programs

The 31 counties are not required to have machines in place by 2004 but should have enough time if they choose to move ahead, said David Kennedy, legislative affairs director for Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell.

Enquirer reporter Cindi Andrews contributed.

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On the Net

Ohio Secretary of State: http://www.sos.state.oh.us

Controlling Board: http://www.obm.ohio.gov