No voting machines for Amsterdam.

04 Nov, 2006

Citizens in the Dutch capital will be voting with the traditional red pencil in the national elections on 22 Nov following a decision by minister for government reform, Atzo Nicola, withdrawing approval for SDU computerised voting machines. The SDU machines were to have been used in 35 municipalities including the capital, but were recently found to be vulnerable to tapping. Campaigners from the We Dont Trust Voting Machines group have invited voters from the rest of the country to come to Amsterdam to cast their vote on paper, and have organized a meeting to monitor election results. Most Dutch cities use the NEDAP voting machine, which campaigners claim can also be manipulated. Amsterdam mayor Job Cohen has said that additional volunteers will be brought in to count votes at the polling stations on election night.