For Immediate Release                                                           Contact:  Chris Nelson
  Friday, January 21, 2005                                                        Phone:  605-773-3537

Secretary of State to Host Voting Machine Vendor Fair

PIERRE, SD – Secretary of State Chris Nelson would like to invite the public to the Voting Vendor Fair on Thursday, January 27, 2005 at the Ramkota River-Centre in Pierre.  The event starts at 12:30 p.m. and will conclude at 7 p.m.

To comply with the federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA), South Dakota will purchase electronic voting equipment for polling places.  HAVA is federal legislation intended to assist states in improving their election procedures and vote counting machinery.  It is a result of the problems that Florida and Missouri faced with their elections in 2000.   

“The Help America Vote Act is the biggest overhaul of the election system ever seen in the history of South Dakota,” said Nelson.  “The Voting Vendor Fair is a chance for the public to view these machines, practice voting on them and give me their opinions.  Suggestions from the general public will keep ensuring that South Dakotans have a voice in their steadfast election process.” 

Avante, Election Systems and Software and Populex will be the featured companies.  Presentations from the vendors will begin at 12:30 p.m. and conclude at 4 p.m. in Amphitheatre II.  The vendors will set up their machines in the Lewis and Clark Hallway for the public to vote on from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.