Light Bulb moment - I received the new switch and now I understand. The two brass looking posts are for the wires to connect to the switch. When I removed the cover from the old one, the wires were inside of the switch and not connected by the posts, but there was only one post on the switch as well. I opened the switch to change out the wires and added the little brass post. That is probably what is causing the error. The new switch does not look as though it is to be opened and that the wires clip on to the posts. Making progress here.