Diebold Election Systems Successfully Tallies Georgia's First Step Toward Statewide Touch-Screen Elections

AccuVote-TS voting station

"Georgia's new uniform electronic voting system received its first test in yesterday's Primary Election and the Diebold units passed with flying colors," said Georgia Secretary of State Cathy Cox, Georgia's chief elections official. "Throughout Hall and Marion Counties we heard extremely positive comments from voters and poll workers about the convenience, security and ease of use of the new AccuVote-TS units. Our experience yesterday confirms that we are on target for a very successful deployment throughout the state in the November 5 General Election."

Electronic touch-screen voting was used within all precincts in Hall and Marion counties. "Our computerized voting systems performed extremely well," said Bob Urosevich, president of Diebold Election Systems. "Overall, Georgia voters in Hall and Marion counties were delighted to be the first to use the equipment in an actual election."

Each AccuVote-TS voting station is equipped with a 15-inch touch-screen monitor for easy use by voters, and it provides full, private ballot access to visually impaired voters using a voice-guidance system and a standard keypad.

Georgia state officials held a press conference in Atlanta in May to announce they had finalized an agreement to award Diebold Election Systems with a $54 million agreement -- the nation's largest-ever voting contract -- to revamp the state's election system technology with more than 19,000 computerized touch-screen voting systems to be distributed throughout 159 counties within Georgia. Diebold was the unanimous choice of the Georgia selection committee.

As the first state in the United States to implement a uniform state-wide computerized touch-screen voting system, Georgia is a national leader in replacing outdated election equipment with the new touch-screen systems, which are more accurate, convenient and accessible to all voters.

Diebold Election Systems, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Diebold, Incorporated, a global leader in providing integrated self-service delivery systems and services. Diebold employs more than 13,000 associates with representation in more than 88 countries worldwide and headquarters in North Canton, Ohio, USA. Diebold reported revenue of $1.76 billion in 2001 and is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol 'DBD.' For more information on Diebold Election Systems, Inc., visit the company's Web site at http://www.dieboldes.com , or call 1-800-433-VOTE.

SOURCE Diebold, Incorporated
Web Site: http://www.diebold.com