County's New Voting Machines On Display At Fair
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Acting as precinct judge, county commissioner Avis Gunter inserted a card into MicroVote's Infinity Voting Panel. Units are on display at the Republican and Democrat booths in the merchant's tent on the fairgrounds.
A series of questions appeared on a black and grey screen, like, "What's your favorite animal at the fair?" and "What's your favorite fair food?" A second page, accessed with the push of a button, asks voters if they ever used a punch card system and whether or not they prefer new method.
A "X" appears in a box beside the voter's selection and the selection is highlighted.
Unlike the punch card method of voting, votes can be reviewed and changed.
A red "final" button locks in the ballot. That final step was overlooked by several people as they away from the booth.
"That will all be explained by the judge," Gunter said of the new contraption.
County clerk Sharon Christner said so far everyone has liked the MicroVote system. She could instantly access the number of voters - 65 at the GOP booth and 26 at the Democrat booth - as of 7 p.m. Tuesday.
A printed tally sheet will be available at the end of the fair revealing the fair-going voter's favorite activity, animal and food, among other things.
"An elderly woman came in last night and said her first vote was for Calvin Coolidge (U.S. President from 1923 to 1929)," Christmer said. "She'd also voted for FDR. She really liked the system."
Federal mandates demand new voting machines must be in place nationwide by January, with no more punch card of lever election systems.
The county council approved purchase of the new machines earlier this year.
The booths become portable as everything folds up into a suitcase. [[In-content Ad]]
Acting as precinct judge, county commissioner Avis Gunter inserted a card into MicroVote's Infinity Voting Panel. Units are on display at the Republican and Democrat booths in the merchant's tent on the fairgrounds.
A series of questions appeared on a black and grey screen, like, "What's your favorite animal at the fair?" and "What's your favorite fair food?" A second page, accessed with the push of a button, asks voters if they ever used a punch card system and whether or not they prefer new method.
A "X" appears in a box beside the voter's selection and the selection is highlighted.
Unlike the punch card method of voting, votes can be reviewed and changed.
A red "final" button locks in the ballot. That final step was overlooked by several people as they away from the booth.
"That will all be explained by the judge," Gunter said of the new contraption.
County clerk Sharon Christner said so far everyone has liked the MicroVote system. She could instantly access the number of voters - 65 at the GOP booth and 26 at the Democrat booth - as of 7 p.m. Tuesday.
A printed tally sheet will be available at the end of the fair revealing the fair-going voter's favorite activity, animal and food, among other things.
"An elderly woman came in last night and said her first vote was for Calvin Coolidge (U.S. President from 1923 to 1929)," Christmer said. "She'd also voted for FDR. She really liked the system."
Federal mandates demand new voting machines must be in place nationwide by January, with no more punch card of lever election systems.
The county council approved purchase of the new machines earlier this year.
The booths become portable as everything folds up into a suitcase. [[In-content Ad]]