Camden, TN - In a letter obtained by Kentucky Lake Times National Bulletin, dated September 7, 2007, the past election process was questioned by the state of Tennessee. The letter is from the Department of State - Division of Elections in Nashville, to the previous Administrator of Elections with the Benton County Election Commission in Camden.

The letter indicates that the "the election commission tested the early voting machines, but did not print the results tapes from these machines. Questions about whether the the election commission should have printed the tally tapes of the early voting machine test elections have been raised."

The letter continues: "The fact that the statute prohibits the printing of the early voting results tapes until the absentee counting board convenes on election day, does not interfere with or cancel the requirement that the early voting machines be properly and completely tested before being used in the election...the proper testing of the early voting machines plays an imperative part to assuring a fair and accurate election. To be clear, a complete test of the early voting machines includes the printing of the results tapes from the early voting test election."

"The election commission must assure that after the election, but before the official certification of the election results, that an audit of the early voting machine tapes and the election day precinct voting machine tapes has been accomplished. This audit of each voting machine used in the election must be the basis for the final and official certified election results." (Download the PDF version of the letter - 1.6 megs) {Discuss this topic on BentonCountyIssues.com}