“The Senate on Tuesday passed a bill to delay a law requiring a paper trail on voting machines until the 2012 election cycle. The 22-10 vote was the chamber’s second run at the measure after it failed to gain a majority by one vote on the last day of last year’s legislative session. As much as $37 million in federal funding is available under the Help America Vote Act — passed in the aftermath of Florida’s 2000 general election debacle — to buy the machines in Tennessee. But several county election officials, including dozens who watched from the Senate gallery, have raised concerns that costs may exceed the federal funding.” (01/12/10)