Pennsylvania: US threatens to sue over voting machines
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports: The U.S. Department of Justice has waded into Pennsylvania's growing crisis over voting systems, threatening to sue the state if its counties fail to be in compliance with federal law by the May primary election.
In addition to the potential lawsuit, Wan J. Kim, assistant U.S. attorney general for civil rights, also warned in a letter to Pennsylvania Attorney General Thomas Corbett dated Feb. 21 that $23 million in federal funds might be at risk. He said he plans to file a complaint in federal court within 10 days.
"We hope to resolve this matter through a negotiated consent decree," Kim wrote.
It is not clear with whom the U.S. Justice Department would negotiate a consent decree, and the federal agency did not return phone calls seeking to clarify the letter. In addition to Corbett, Kim's letter went to the Pennsylvania Department of State and the solicitor of Westmoreland County, which was successfully sued in Commonwealth Court to block the switch to new voting machines without voter approval.
The Westmoreland case has been appealed to the state Supreme Court, which is expected to issue its ruling next week. -- Philadelphia Inquirer | 02/24/2006 | U.S. threatens to sue Pa. over voting measures