By AP/KWMU
St. Louis, MO – The St. Louis Election Board says it needs $600,000 to buy laptop computers, but Mayor Francis Slay's office isn't sure the board should get the money.
The Board told the Justice department it would provide computers for election judges as part of a settlement last year.
That agreement was reached after the 2000 presidential election. One issue in St. Louis was that hundreds of voters were turned away from the polls, when election officials couldn't tell if they were eligible to vote.
But Mayor Francis Slay says the past records of mismanaging cell phones in the board's office puts into question buying computers to be passed out on election day.
The mayor's office also says they think the computers were optional under the Justice Department agreement.
Some aldermen said they're looking for a solution.