Allegheny County Council Democrats are urging the county's board of elections not to buy thousands of touch-screen voting machines from Diebold Inc., a controversial company that is one of the country's largest producers of voting equipment.

Council Democrats will introduce a motion at tonight's meeting asking the board to instead consider "viable alternatives."

Local governments across the United States must purchase new machines this year to comply with the federal Help America Vote Act, and the three-member elections board is holding a public meeting on the issue today at 8:30 a.m. in the county Courthouse, Downtown.

Chief Executive Dan Onorato, who sits on the board, yesterday said he would announce his preferred supplier at the meeting.

So far, Diebold, of North Canton, Ohio, is the only company that has said it could deliver 5,600 machines by the May 16 primary election.

But the company has encountered problems, including lawsuits, in several states, and its former chief executive officer, Wally O'Dell, stoked anger and suspicion in 2003, when he sent out a fund-raising letter to Ohio Republicans promising that he was "committed to helping Ohio deliver its electoral votes to [President Bush] next year."

The company no longer allows anyone affiliated with its election department to participate in political activities, but council President Rich Fitzgerald, D-Squirrel Hill, thinks too much damage has been done.

"There's just so much out there. I don't think people would have confidence if Allegheny County went with their system," he said.

All of council's 10 Democrats except John DeFazio have sponsored the motion. Mr. DeFazio, D-Shaler, sits on the elections board along with Mr. Onorato and Councilman Dave Fawcett, R-Oakmont.

Mr. Fitzgerald said the issue isn't partisan. He said he would have declined to support Diebold even if Mr. O'Dell, who stepped down as CEO in December, had been a supporter of Mr. Bush's 2004 opponent, Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts.

Councilman Vince Gastgeb, chairman of council's five-member Republican caucus, said he doesn't think council members should be staking out positions because they don't know enough about the available systems.

The county faces losing some, or all, of a $12 million federal grant if it doesn't purchase new machines.

Mr. Gastgeb, of Bethel Park, said the county should take that risk and put more time into finding the best machine for the county.

"If you make a mistake, it's going to cost a lot more than $12 million," he said.