Voting technology on verge of expansion

By LARRY BIVINS
Tennessean Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON — Nashville businessman Athan Gibbs says he was more interested in serving democracy than making money when he began creating a system to address the 2000 Florida presidential vote debacle.

Today, about 36 months and $2 million later, Gibbs is positioning his company, TruVote International Inc., to take advantage of a second wave of election reform stemming from problems in Florida that delayed the result of the presidential election for 35 days. The push could produce a financial boon for his startup company.

''Really, the sky's the limit,'' said Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Nashville, a co-sponsor of legislation that seeks greater accountability in voting systems. ''It could be one of the greatest American dream stories ever told. If his technology hits, it's going to hit big.''

Gibbs, 57, is the inventor of TruVote Voter Validation and Verification System, which includes a computerized touch-screen voting machine that provides voters with a receipt. Using an identification number on the receipt, voters can verify later by computer or touch-tone telephone that their vote was recorded.

Read Article