CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Kanawha County election officials may go with touch-screen voting machines if satellite voting is approved in the county.

County officials have been reluctant to use touch-screen voting machines instead of paper voting systems. But Kanawha County Clerk Vera McCormick told Kanawha County commissioners at a meeting Thursday that touch screens may be the best way to proceed if the county implements satellite voting for the May 2010 primary election.

County officials are talking about setting up satellite voting stations in Belle, St. Albans and Elkview so residents in outlying parts of the county don't have to drive all the way to Charleston to cast early ballots.

McCormick had originally wanted to buy a new generation of optical scan ballot machines for the voting satellites, but told Commissioners Kent Carper, Dave Hardy and Hoppy Shores on Thursday that state officials won't approve the new machines in time for the next election.

That leaves the option of buying more of the outdated machines the county now uses, or using touch-screen machines for early voting at the Voters Registration office and the proposed satellite locations.

McCormick said she was worried about buying more of the current machines. She said getting touch-screen machines for the satellites would save about $100,000 compared with the optical scan machines.

County officials are running out of time to work out satellite voting details before the May primary. McCormick and members of the Republican and Democratic executive committees must agree on the satellite locations and details of the process before county commissioners can vote on whether to allow satellite voting.

Also on Thursday, commissioners were given an overview of federal stimulus money awarded within Kanawha County. Federal officials approved almost $67 million in stimulus funding for projects in the county.

Approved projects include almost $5 million in upgrades to Yeager Airport, close to $1.5 million for bridge repairs, about $18 million in sewer upgrades and money to put sheriff's deputies in five local schools.

Reach Rusty Marks at rustyma...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1215.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Kanawha County election officials may go with touch-screen voting machines if satellite voting is approved in the county.

County officials have been reluctant to use touch-screen voting machines instead of paper voting systems. But Kanawha County Clerk Vera McCormick told Kanawha County commissioners at a meeting Thursday that touch screens may be the best way to proceed if the county implements satellite voting for the May 2010 primary election.

County officials are talking about setting up satellite voting stations in Belle, St. Albans and Elkview so residents in outlying parts of the county don't have to drive all the way to Charleston to cast early ballots.

McCormick had originally wanted to buy a new generation of optical scan ballot machines for the voting satellites, but told Commissioners Kent Carper, Dave Hardy and Hoppy Shores on Thursday that state officials won't approve the new machines in time for the next election.

That leaves the option of buying more of the outdated machines the county now uses, or using touch-screen machines for early voting at the Voters Registration office and the proposed satellite locations.

McCormick said she was worried about buying more of the current machines. She said getting touch-screen machines for the satellites would save about $100,000 compared with the optical scan machines.

County officials are running out of time to work out satellite voting details before the May primary. McCormick and members of the Republican and Democratic executive committees must agree on the satellite locations and details of the process before county commissioners can vote on whether to allow satellite voting.

Also on Thursday, commissioners were given an overview of federal stimulus money awarded within Kanawha County. Federal officials approved almost $67 million in stimulus funding for projects in the county.

Approved projects include almost $5 million in upgrades to Yeager Airport, close to $1.5 million for bridge repairs, about $18 million in sewer upgrades and money to put sheriff's deputies in five local schools.

Reach Rusty Marks at rustyma...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1215.