By AP
Nashville, TN – The Tennessee Senate has voted to delay a state law requiring paper ballots on elections machines. The chamber voted 22-to-10 Tuesday to pass the bill and send it for the governor's consideration. Governor Phil Bredesen's office had no immediate comment on whether he plans to sign the measure into law. The current law requires the new voting machines before this year's elections. Under the bill approved yesterday, that requirement will be shifted to the 2012 election cycle.
The House passed the measure last year on a 70-to-23 vote, but it fell one vote short of a majority in the Senate on the last day of the session. Supporters of the delay cite the price tag faced by county elections officials and argues that any machines bought this year would soon be outdated.