Electronic voting problems recently discovered in West Virginia have not caused alarm among Allegheny and Westmoreland county officials who will be holding an election using similar equipment in two weeks.
The iVotronic by Nebraska-based Election Systems and Software Inc. is set to debut in both counties for Pennsylvania's May 16 primary.
A version of the iVotronic slated for use in West Virginia's May 9 primary was programmed with outdated software, preventing the machines from recognizing vote totals, said Ben Beakes, chief of staff for West Virginia Secretary of State Betty Ireland.
Beakes called the problem "human error," adding that Election Systems and Software was quick to begin repairs. A call to the company yesterday was not immediately returned.
Whether West Virginia's problems are a sign of things to come in Pennsylvania remains in question.
"We are looking into it," State Department spokeswoman Leslie Amoros said.
Allegheny County officials expect to have 2,628 iVotronics in place by the primary. In Westmoreland County, 740 of the machines already are in hand. Machine testing in both counties will happen in the coming days, a plan that had been in place regardless of the situation in West Virginia.
Kevin Evanto, spokesman for Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato, said a few iVotronics have been sent back already because of mechanical problems. Overall, he said, county officials remain confident in the technology.
Westmoreland County Commissioner Phil Light said he has no reason to believe the problem in West Virginia will occur here, but that elections officials will remain on the lookout.
"There's no such thing as a perfect situation," he said. "We have to be as vigilant as possible and set up a process so we can handle any problem that comes up."
Westmoreland election Director Paula T. Pedicone said the county's information technology department will assist in machine testing and will be available to handle any problems on election day.
Westmoreland Solicitor R. Mark Gesalman said Election Systems and Software would have to fix any glitches discovered with the iVotronic. Failure to do so could be considered a breach of contract.
"There's only so much we can do," Gesalman said. "It has to be the company standing behind their product."
Elections officials throughout the nation say they are required to update voting equipment this year under the Help America Vote Act, a federal law passed in response to counting problems in Florida's 2000 presidential election.
Pennsylvania received $136 million in federal grants for counties to buy new equipment. Westmoreland County is spending $2.5 million of that money for a total of 800 iVotronics. Allegheny County is spending $11.9 million for 4,700 machines.
Each county expects to have its entire iVotronic order filled by the November general election.
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