Fla. Voting Machines on EBay? Yes, But ...
May 8 -- It sounds like the chance of a lifetime — to own one of the “butterfly ballot” voting machines that caused such a ruckus in the last presidential elections.
An online auction on eBay urged surfers to “grab your pieces of history” by bidding for “an actual Votomatic Punchcard Voting Recorder.”
Unfortunately, bidders may soon feel like some Palm Beach residents: cheated.
The machines offered by Xenia, Ohio-based Psephos Corp. — two on eBay and more on its own corporate Web site — aren’t the actual infamous machines used in Palm Beach, but, rather, replicas.
Although the eBay listings states “PALM BEACH CO BUTTERFLY BALLOT VOTING MACHINE,” the online descriptions of the machines says they are “like the ones used in Florida.”
Palm Beach County's voting machines gained infamy after conservative candidate Pat Buchanan received thousands of votes, an unusually high number in the heavily Democratic region. Later, some voters said they had incorrectly punched votes for Buchanan, because his name was close to Democratic candidate Al Gore's on the so-called "butterfly ballots."
George W. Bush became president, gaining Florida's 25 electoral votes after winning the state over Gore by 537 votes following repeated recounting and controversy.
Bidding Goes High
Since their appearance on eBay, bidding for one machine has jumped more than eight-fold from its initial $50 opening bid. At more than $400, it’s also more than five times what Psephos lists the machine for on its own Web site. The other replica from Psephos has generated less than $200 in bids as of this afternoon.
Repeated calls by ABCNEWS.com to Psephos Corp. have gone unanswered.
Another eBay seller has also joined the act, listing a similar ballot machine but with a twist. Over-anxious bidders could immediately buy the replica for the seller's asking price of $250, easily overlooking the full description and disclaimer that the item isn't the actual Florida machine.
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