W-b Man Gets Probation In Domestic Dispute Case

153 Cyclists Pump Out $45,000 For A Good Cause 
A Record Number Of Participants 
Raise Money For Hospice St. John, 
And Follow It With Barbecue Dinner

By MIKE RUBINKAM; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Tuesday, July 30, 1996 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





WILKES-BARRE -- Whether Luzerne County voters agree to replace the county's
antiquated mechanical voting machines with modern electronic ones may depend
on a single symbol. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A dollar sign. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The phrasing of a November referendum will play a crucial role in
determining the outcome of the vote, according to a political analyst. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Voters are less likely to approve a referendum that asks them to spend a
specific sum of money, said Mike Young, a political scientist at Penn State
University. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Obviously, any referendum that has clear cost implications hits heavy
water at the state or local level," he said. "So the language is certainly
critical to the outcome of the vote." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Last week, the ad hoc Luzerne County Voting Methods Committee voted to
spend between $2 million and $2.5 million on 400 new machines. Before the
machines can be purchased, state law requires a referendum asking voters to
approve a change in voting method. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 At this point, it's not clear whether the law permits the question to
include the cost of the voting machines. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 According to a provision in the state electoral code, "The county election
board may ... submit to the qualified registered electors of the county or
municipality ... the question "shall an electronic voting system be used at
polling places in the (county or municipality) of (name of the county or
municipality)?" &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 On Monday, Luzerne County Solicitor Richard Goldberg began researching how
the referendum question should be worded. He expects to present his findings
to the commissioners in mid-August. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Taxpayer advocate Audrey Biscontini favors electronic voting. But she wants
to see the dollar amount included in the question -- even if that jeopardizes
the outcome. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "All the taxpayers I know definitely want different voting machines," she
said. "At this point, it doesn't matter what's it going to cost." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Another taxpayer advocate, John Gibbons, agreed the cost of the machines
should be included on the ballot. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Gibbons, who has not decided whether he supports the purchase of new
machines, led the crusade against last year's referendum that asked voters
whether the county should guarantee bonds for the proposed arena/convention
center. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ironically, the push for the new voting machines was spurred by that
referendum. After the arena/convention center referendum was narrowly
defeated, an investigation by the county district attorney's office revealed
widespread tampering with the machines. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The district attorney's report prompted the county Election Board to toss
out the tally of one machine in Nanticoke and to recommend that the county buy
state-of-the-art electronic machines. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Unlike the proposed question, the arena referendum fell under a statute
that required a dollar amount. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Machines' Price Tag At Issue