Suit filed over voting machines

Tuesday, July 2, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

A Nevada congressional candidate has filed a lawsuit to try to prohibit the use of electronic voting machines in Clark County.

Republican Pat McMillan, running in the 2nd Congressional District, filed suit last week in U.S. District Court to ban the machines, which take the place of the paper ballot that voters punch with a stylus.

Detractors complain that electronic machines do not provide a paper trail in case votes are challenged.

"It does not comply with Nevada and federal election laws providing for a recount," McMillan said.

Registrar of Voters Kathryn Ferguson said the machines, which were first used in Clark County in 1994, have withstood previous court challenges. She said the machines produce a printout that's kept on file in case a recount is requested.

"The machines provide a paper-audit trail on every ballot," Ferguson said. "Mr. McMillan has had that explained to him many times."

Comp time

Rep. Barbara Vucanovich, R-Nev., joined nine congresswomen in signing a June 26 letter to President Clinton urging support of legislation that would allow workers to receive comp time instead of pay for overtime.

"Employees want the option of choosing more family time instead of more pay because many consider time with their families more valuable," the letter said.

Natural Party

The Natural Party has filed its list of candidates for the Nov. 5 election.

Richard Eidson of Las Vegas is set to run against Rep. John Ensign, R-Nev., in the 1st Congressional District, and Lois Avery of Sparks will vie for the 2nd Congressional District seat being vacated by retiring Rep. Barbara Vucanovich, R-Nev.

Janice Williams will challenge state Sen. Sue Lowden, R-Las Vegas, in District 7, while her husband, Michael Williams, will run in Assembly District 41, being vacated by Democrat Larry Spitler.

The National Law Party stresses prevention, rather than spending money at the back end of programs. For instance, it advocates diet, exercise and stress reduction for people to prevent them from getting sick. It would spend more on early-prevention programs for children, rather than in prisons.