No buyer for voting machine unit

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US cash dispenser and security company Diebold has admitted that it has failed to find a buyer for its troubled electronic voting machine business.

Diebold and other manufacturers of such voting machines have been hit by criticism that they are unreliable and vulnerable to tampering.

Growing unease about the machines in the US has led to a number of delayed orders from states.

Diebold said that as a result, its 2007 revenues would fall $120m (£61m).

It added that it would now allow the unit to operate more independently, with a separate board of directors and, possibly, a new management structure.

Possible future sale

Diebold said it had not ruled out another attempt at a full or partial sale.

Some 50 million Americans, about 30% of registered voters, used electronic machines to cast their vote in the 2004 presidential election.

The machines were introduced in the aftermath of the problems caused by antiquated punch-card systems in the 2000 presidential election.

However, there has since been growing concern that electronic machines may be equally as unreliable.