A computer expert told Allegheny County Council yesterday that it is "absolutely critical" for the county to purchase electronic voting machines with paper trails that voters can use to check their choices.

	Andy Starnes, Post-Gazette James Carpenter of North Versailles tries out an AccuPoll voting machine yesterday at the Westin Convention Center hotel, Downtown. Click photo for larger image.

"There is virtual unanimity on this subject," Dr. David Jefferson, a computer scientist and chairman of an advisory board for California's secretary of state, said over a speakerphone during a public meeting. "It just can't be left to software alone."

No council members disagreed with Dr. Jefferson. But the county faces a Jan. 1 deadline for finding a high-tech replacement for its 2,800 lever machines to comply with the federal Help America Vote Act, a product of the disputed presidential election in Florida five years ago.

So far, Pennsylvania's Department of State has certified two machines, and is likely to certify more within the next few weeks.

About a dozen machines from four companies were on display yesterday at the Westin Convention Center hotel, Downtown.

In the evening, council held a public hearing on the issue at the Allegheny County Courthouse.

"We all agree. We want a paper trail," said Councilman John DeFazio, D-Shaler, a member of the county's Board of Elections. "But we don't know which machine is better."

Several computer experts from Carnegie Mellon University said the federal government's tight schedule makes it harder to find out.

"It's insane to be rushing into a decision like this," said professor Daniel Sleator of the computer science department. "We really need more time."

The county will spend about $20 million next year for new machines. Officials risk losing $12 million in federal aid if they don't meet the January deadline. The three-member Board of Elections -- Mr. DeFazio, Councilman Dave Fawcett and Chief Executive Dan Onorato -- will decide which machine to buy.

"All voting systems today still have lots of bugs in them," Dr. Jefferson said.

That's why California law requires machines to have paper trails as a backup.

Both houses of Pennsylvania's Legislature are considering a similar law, but it is unlikely to pass this year.

That means the Department of State doesn't have to select machines with paper trails, and it hasn't. One machine, built by California-based AccuPoll, can print a paper copy of a voter's choices. But the state has told the company to disable that function because of concerns about voter confidentiality.

Richard King, a local activist with Verified Voting, told council that the AccuPoll system's paper trail could be adjusted to meet the state's concerns.

He expressed his strong support for an alternative system, the optical scanner, which lets a voter use a pen or pencil to fill in ovals on a ballot that resembles a standardized test.

A steady swarm of people in a crowded meeting room at the Westin seemed drawn to the flashier touch-screen systems. They participated in a virtual rematch between Cyril H. Wecht and Jim Roddey for the office of county chief executive.

"The goal is to get as many voters engaged in this process as possible," said Tim Johnson, director of the county Department of Administrative Services.

Many of the machines on display looked like portable ATMs. Voters tapped their choices on the screen and pushed a forward arrow to see the rest of the ballot.

Under federal law, the machines also must be accessible to disabled voters like Joyce Driben of Greenfield, who is blind.

Ms. Driben preferred a system built by Nebraska-based Diebold. While using it, she wore headphones and made her choices on a telephone keypad.

"It gives you instructions on how to vote, but it doesn't tell you who to vote for," she said with a chuckle.