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Lawmaker Pushes To Drop Contract For Voter Registration System

Other States Have Dumped Similar Deals

UPDATED: 8:17 pm CST March 13, 2006

A state lawmaker said that Wisconsin should pull the plug on its controversial contract to develop a statewide, federally-mandated voter registration system.

The proposal comes only days after yet another state announced it was dropping its contract to build a similar system. Last week, Wyoming became the third of four states to pull out of its contract with Accenture, WISC-TV reported.

Wisconsin is now the only state still with Accenture in a controversial $14 million contract that aims to set up a system that would reduce voter fraud.

The project has been plagued with delays. In January, Wisconsin missed a federal deadline to have its system ready. Currently, a State Elections Board spokesman said that deployment of the project is on hold until "performance" and other problems are corrected, WISC-TV reported.

Kevin Kennedy, the director of the State Elections Board, said that he wants some assurances from Accenture.

"We would like a firm, written commitment that you are committed to completing the development and implementation of the voter system in Wisconsin ... and will provide the level of long-term support specified," Kennedy wrote in a letter to Accenture officials.

However, critics of Accenture said that they believe it's too late for promises.

Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, said that he wants the state to just dump the contract, too.

"I think we should learn from the other three people who contracted with Accenture and pull the plug and get this project done and get it done right," Pocan said.

Pocan said that the contract was a bad one to begin with and insists that Minnesota or others could set up a workable system for less money.

A spokesman for Accenture said that they are committed to finishing the project and meeting the requirements of the contract, WISC-TV reported.

A spokesman for the State Elections Board said that it believes Accenture will work out, but admitted that expansion of the system is also on hold because of performance problems.




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