NORTH CANTON, Ohio, Jul 21, 2003 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Diebold Election
Systems, Inc., a wholly owned operating subsidiary of Diebold, Incorporated,
has finalized an agreement for up to $55.6 million with Maryland officials to
deliver touch-screen voting technology and related services throughout the
remainder of the State. The contract, which is the largest-ever voting system
agreement to date in the United States, includes approximately 11,000 Diebold
touch-screen voting systems that will bring uniformity to elections throughout
Maryland.
Under terms of the Maryland agreement, product hardware will account for
approximately $30 million in revenue in 2003, with the remainder of the order
accounting for service and maintenance of the systems over the contract
period.
In March 2002, the State of Maryland purchased more than 5,000 Diebold
electronic voting systems for approximately $17 million for use in four
Maryland counties: Allegany, Dorchester, Montgomery and Prince George's, home
to approximately 35 percent of the state's nearly three million registered
voters. These four counties were the first in a state-mandated endeavor to
implement a unified voting system throughout the state.
Maryland, the first state in the country to begin implementation of a
uniform state-wide computerized touch-screen voting system, is on the
forefront of a nationwide "election reform" movement by replacing outdated
election equipment with the new electronic systems that are more accurate,
convenient and accessible to voters. "We are very pleased with the voter
feedback we've received regarding the Diebold voting stations," said Margaret
Jurgensen, election director for Montgomery County, Maryland. "Voters in our
county are particularly satisfied with the terminal's ease-of-use and the
option to vote in different languages."
"This deal, combined with our previous successes, should give other states
and counties enough confidence in our ability to provide the highest quality
of product and service in the voting industry," said Thomas W. Swidarski,
senior vice president, Strategic Development & Global Marketing for Diebold.
"We're hopeful more states will consider a uniform approach to modernizing
their legacy elections equipment," added Swidarski, who also oversees Diebold
Election Systems.
Diebold is a global leader in providing technologically advanced, high-
quality direct recording electronic (DRE) voting solutions to jurisdictions of
all sizes, along with a comprehensive service and elections support capability
that's unmatched on a global scale. Diebold also offers a comprehensive
solution that includes advanced technology, project management, training
expertise and voter outreach programs. Diebold's touch-screen system provides
voters with a state-of-the-art design that represents a major leap forward in
voting technology. The reliable and efficient system accurately and securely
captures each vote.
Each Diebold voting station is equipped with a 15-inch touch-screen
monitor for easy use by voters, and is capable of supporting thousands of
different ballot styles. Each station also provides full, private ballot
access to blind and visually impaired voters using a voice-guidance system and
a standard keypad.
Some 33,000 Diebold voting stations were successfully used in locations
across the country, including more than 22,000 throughout the state of
Georgia, 4,000 in Alameda County, Calif., and 860 in Johnson County, Kan.,
among others, during the November 5, 2002 general election to assist millions
of voters in exercising their most fundamental constitutional right on the
most modern voting equipment in the nation.
Diebold Election Systems is a wholly owned operating subsidiary of
Diebold, Incorporated (NYSE: DBD), a global leader in providing integrated
self-service delivery and security systems and services. Diebold employs more
than 13,000 associates with representation in more than 88 countries
worldwide, and is headquartered in North Canton, Ohio, USA. Diebold reported
revenue of $1.9 billion in 2002 and is publicly traded on the New York Stock
Exchange under the symbol 'DBD.' For more information on Diebold Election
Systems, Inc., visit the company's Web site at www.dieboldes.com , or call
1-800-433-VOTE.
SOURCE Diebold, Incorporated
Media, Joseph Richardson, +1-330-490-5562, or
richarj2@diebold.com; or Investors, John Kristoff, +1-330-490-5900, or
kristoj@diebold.com, both of Diebold
http://www.diebold.com
