Venezuela picks untested voting machines

Caracas, , Apr. 20 (UPI) -- Venezuela's electoral council has chosen an untried touch screen voting machine made in Boca Raton, Fla., for use in its elections.

The decision to scrap its current voting machines after only six years comes as President Hugo Chavez tries to avoid a recall election, The Miami Herald reported Tuesday. The Herald said the decision was made in secret Feb. 16.

His opponents charge the new Smartmatic Corp. devices can be manipulated to influence elections.

"We have no trust in the new machines. We are afraid they are preparing to cheat us, and we have reasons to be worried," said Edgar Zambrano, an opposition congressman.

The current machines are optical scanners built by Election Systems & Software of Omaha, Neb. The system is considered one of the most secure and advanced in the world.

Smartmatic Chief Executive Officer Antonio Mugica is a Venezuelan citizen. Smartmatic has never before built a voting machine, but Mugica said its employees have extensive experience in the field.