Colorado voting machines rejected

DENVER, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- Colorado officials were scrambling to prepare for the 2008 presidential election after electronic voting machines in most counties were deemed unusable.

Colorado Secretary of State Mike Coffman announced Monday he was decertifying thousands of electronic voting machines in 53 counties because they were inaccurate and insecure, the Rocky Mountain News said.

Coffman decertified machines by Sequoia Voting System, Hart InterCivic and Election Systems and Software (ES&S), the Denver Post said. Machines and scanners made by Premier Election Solutions, formerly Diebold Election Systems, were certified.

Among options facing local election officials are using paper ballots, buying new equipment, upgrading existing equipment and appealing Coffman's decision.