On January 16, a U.S. District Court in Albany, New York, approved a settlement in U.S. v New York State Board of Elections. Under the settlement, New York can continue to use mechanical voting machines until 2009 (even though federal law says there are illegal). However, the state will provide a separate type of device this year, in each precinct, for voters who cannot use the mechanical machines, particularly blind voters. Thanks to Bill Van Allen for this news.