HERNDON, Va., Oct. 30, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) announced today that the company has entered the worldwide electronic election services market by signing an agreement with iPaper, LLC, Richmond, Va., to exclusively license and manufacture iPaper's electronic voting systems.
Northrop Grumman's Information Technology (IT) and Electronic Systems sectors will develop and market high-tech election systems, addressing a critical need for fully integrated, dependable and affordable voting systems throughout voting precincts in the United States. Northrop Grumman selected the iPaper solution following a comprehensive evaluation of available technologies and systems.
"Northrop Grumman is unreservedly committed to strengthening the integrity of our election process and ensuring that every ballot cast counts, and we firmly believe that this solution is up to the challenge," said Cheryl Janey, vice president, State & Local Programs, Northrop Grumman IT. "We objectively looked for voting systems with the best combination of performance, price and an open-platform design that could be easily upgraded. The iPaper solution offered all those benefits and can correct the shortcomings of currently installed voting systems that have resulted in erroneous ballots."
Northrop Grumman will offer a complete voting system, including early-voting capability, state-of-the-art precinct systems and optical-scanning absentee systems. The complete election management software programs manage ballot creation, vote tallies and the creation of reports for an election. A smaller but essential component is the audio ballot module that permits disabled voters to vote using audio rather than visual prompts. The system utilizes smart cards to identify both polling officer and voter, as well as a voting device that stores ballot information and voter input. This solution is based on LCD/electronic switch voting technology, which is simple to operate and easy to transport. This solution does not require calibration, thereby reducing discrepancies caused by both human and technology errors.
"Installing iPaper's state-of-the-art election systems will help Northrop Grumman achieve its goals to provide the security and integrity of the ideals and principles that Americans hold dear," said Tom Davis, managing member, iPaper LLC. "Their expertise and reputation with solving large-scale, complex installations with superior service support for mission critical systems is well known throughout the industry."
Northrop Grumman will immediately commence pursuing state-to-state certifications for this solution, which is already certified by the National Association of State Election Directors, and will initially focus on those states that have demonstrated an early interest in adopting new voting technologies. Northrop Grumman will also be developing a national network of regional third-party election service providers, which will offer and implement these election systems.
"The American people now understand the problems many election officials have been forced to endure for too long in this industry, and Congress appears ready to help the states obtain the technology that they need," said former Commonwealth of Virginia Governor L. Douglas Wilder, chairman of the board of directors of Diversified Dynamics, parent company of iPaper LLC. "Election officials everywhere want modern voting systems; they want flexible choices and vendors with the capability to deliver quality services. Citizens want to be assured that they can exercise their rights to vote without fear of disenfranchisement. And, this strategic teaming agreement between Northrop Grumman and iPaper can address these needs."
Northrop Grumman Information Technology is a premier provider of advanced IT solutions, engineering and business services for government and commercial clients. Headquartered in Herndon, the company's expertise spans such areas as information systems integration; command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR); enterprise hardware and software solutions; training and simulation; base and range support; signals intelligence; space systems; health informatics; and specialized scientific, engineering and technical services.
Headquartered in Baltimore, Md., Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems is a world leader in the design, development and manufacture of defense electronics systems including airborne radar systems, navigation systems, electronic warfare systems, precision weapons, airspace management systems, air defense systems, communications systems, space systems, marine systems, oceanic and naval systems, logistics systems, and automation and information systems.
Diversified Dynamics, Inc. was co-founded in 1997 by former Commonwealth of Virginia Governor L. Douglas Wilder and Midlothian, Va., businessman, Thomas G. Davis, to develop electronic voting technology. Wilder is the company's chairman of the board of directors. Davis, the company's vice chairman, is also managing member of iPaper, LLC, a separate company founded to develop patented 'audio ballot voting technology' and other patented 'paper-based' computerized data collection technologies for use in next-generation absentee voting systems and to provide immediate improvements in educational testing processes. Their patent pending SYSTEM 5 DVRS (Direct Vote Recording System) and 5 Plus! EMS(c) (Election Management Software) is fully NASED (National Association of State Election Directors) certified.