At the Center of the Election Maelstrom

Lamone argues that paper provides a "false sense of security" and that the state's voting machines have been shown to have the lowest rate of voter error in the nation. She is frustrated by her critics' failure to distinguish between the hiccups caused last week by the new electronic voter check-in system -- and human error in many cases -- and the record of touch-screen machines.

"The press never reports when the plane lands safely," she said. "We've had a lot of safe landings, but we haven't gotten credit for it."

Three years ago, Ehrlich and Lamone were on the same side of the voting debate, when the governor declared the machines "one of the safest, most secure election systems available."

That didn't mean Ehrlich wanted Lamone running the system.

Republicans have been suspicious of the State Board of Elections since 1994 -- before Lamone's time -- when the governor's race between Democrat Parris N. Glendening and Republican Ellen R. Sauerbrey came down to fewer than 6,000 votes.

Ehrlich, who won election in 2002, had the power to appoint the state board, which picked the administrator. It wasn't until 2004 that he had the votes on the board to get rid of her. Lamone fought back in court, though, and held on to her job.

Democrats portrayed the battle as a partisan effort to take control of elections. But Republicans said their suspicions were confirmed the next year when Democratic leaders passed legislation to give Lamone additional job protection.

"The Senate leadership did everything it could to protect her," said Sen. Allan H. Kittleman (R-Howard). "You have to wonder."