DIANE C. WALSH
Newhouse News Service

Sequoia Voting Systems, the manufacturer of New Jersey's vot ing machines, threatened to sue Union County if officials allow a Princeton University computer scientist to examine machines where errors occurred during the presidential primary, officials said yesterday.

A Sequoia executive, Edwin Smith, put Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi on notice that an independent analysis would violate the licensing agreement between his firm and the county. In a two- page letter, Smith also argued the voting machine software is a Se quoia "trade secret" and cannot be handed over to any third party.