In a lawsuit that challenged computerized voting machines that do not produce a paper record, the Superior Court this week ordered additional evaluation of the equipment.

   Sequoia Voting Systems, which manufactures the machines, hailed the ruling as a victory, while plaintiffs say it did not go far enough.

   Judge Linda Feinberg held that New Jersey’s 11,000 voting machines have to be re-evaluated by a qualified panel of experts within 120 days to determine whether they comply with NJ law requiring that they be accurate and reliable.

   Princeton Computer Science Department Chair Professor Andrew Appel served as the plaintiffs’ expert witness. He evaluated the machines, created a fraudulent chip that stole votes and installed that chip in less than 10 seconds. The voting machines could not detect the fraudulent chip.

   Unlike the panel that currently evaluates voting machines, the new panel must have requisite knowledge of computers and computer security.
   ”Sequoia is exceedingly pleased with the court’s decision that affirms what Sequoia and our customers throughout New Jersey and the United States have long known and experienced - that our voting equipment is indeed safe, accurate and reliable,” said Jack A. Blaine, chief executive officer of Sequoia Voting Systems, in a statement.

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