In the US mid-term election of 7 November 2006, the balloting in Sarasota County, Florida, was decidedly high-tech. Voters recorded their choices on electronic touchscreen machines that had been installed following the debacle of Florida's 2000 presidential race between Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore. Then, recounts and legal actions left the United States uncertain of its next leader for more than a month before Bush was eventually declared winner of the state -and the country - by little more than 500 votes out of almost 6 million. The devices promised to prevent a repeat of that event, memorable for its images of officials solemnly peering at hanging, pregnant and dimpled chads on punch-card ballots, trying to decide which of them to count as true votes. Surely with electronic voting, any such ambiguity would be impossible?
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