New voting machines displayed
REPUBLIC – The whirlwind tour of the Fayette County Election Bureau to areas throughout Fayette County to showcase the new electronic voting system got under way at the Senior Community Center in Republic Monday morning. At least two former judges of elections who attended the forum had very positive responses to the eSlate machines. Harry Sumner of Alison 1 and Mary Semonick of Tower Hill 2 had similar comments.
Sumner said the system makes voting a lot easier. “It’s great, I love it,” Sumner said. “We should have bought these a long time ago.”
Sumner predicted that the new system would make the job of poll workers much easier on Election Day.
Semonick, 91, a judge of election for 25 years, said everyone says it’s confusing, but she didn’t share that sentiment. “I think they’re great,” Semonick said of the new lightweight machines.
The visit was the first of nine slated for senior citizens centers across the county and
Laurie Nicholson, director of the Fayette County Election Bureau, said turnout during the hourlong demonstration was quite good.
“It’s going really well,” Nicholson said. “There were a good many today and I had really good responses. The fear is going away.”
Nicholson said previous events last week in Uniontown to coincide with candidate forums also went well.
The county purchased the system from Hart Intercivic for about $1.2 million. When voters show up at the county’s 105 precincts on May 16, they will first be given a four-digit code to dial into the machines before they begin voting. The system is not touch screen; instead voters must turn a dial and push buttons to register their choices on the screen.
There is a help button to help voters who need assistance. Turning the dial clockwise moves the cursor forward and turning the dial counterclockwise moves the cursor backward. Before pushing the “cast ballot” button at the conclusion of the ballot, voters have the option to go back and change any or all or their choices. To make a write-in selection, voters utilize the dial to select the letters in the name of the write-in name.
Another woman who tested out the system, Norma Yeardie, was a little less enthusiastic that the former poll workers, but not opposed to the new system.
“I think it will take a little bit of practice, but its not too complicated and not that hard,” Yeardie said. “I’m just used to the other ones where you go in an pull the lever.”
At the conclusion of the ballot, after the “cast ballot” button is pushed, voters will see a waving American flag. “When you see the waving flag, you’re done voting,” Nicholson said. While the machines were displayed on tables, Nicholson explained that on voting day, they would be enclosed in booths for privacy.
The county was mandated to purchase the new machines in response to the federal Help America Vote Act of 2000, and received grant funding of about $1.1 million to pay for the system.
As part of the county’s public outreach program, Nicholson and election bureau employees will be traveling around the county to demonstrate the machines.
The following public demonstrations are scheduled prior to the primary:
Today from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Connellsville Senior Community Center
Today from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Connellsville Community Center
Today from 3 to 4 p.m. at Connellsville City Hall
Today from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Wharton Township Municipal Building
Wednesday from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Brownsville Senior Community Center
Wednesday from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Brownsville American Legion Post 295
Wednesday from 6 to 7 p.m. at the South Union Township Municipal Building
Thursday from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Perryopolis Senior Community Center
Thursday from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Perry Township Municipal Building
Friday from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Fayette County Association for the Blind
Friday from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Georges Township Municipal Building
Monday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Center on the Hill Senior Community Center
Monday from noon to 1 p.m. at the Washington Township Municipal Building
May 9 from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Masontown Senior Community Center
May 9 from 1 to 2 p.m. at the German Township Municipal Building
May 9 from 5 to 6 p.m. at the North Union Township Municipal Building
May 10 from 10 to 11 a.m. at AMVETS Post 103
May 10 from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Brownfield Community Center
May 10 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Indian Creek Valley Community Center
May 11 from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Uniontown Senior Community Center
May 11 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at Mountain Citizens Action Group
May 11 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Redstone Township Municipal Building
May 12 from 11 a.m. to noon at the Tri County Patriots for Independent Living
In addition to the numerous opportunities to attend one of the public forums, a machine is also available during business hours at the Public Service Building in downtown Uniontown.
Voters can also log onto the Fayette County Web Site at www.co.fayette.pa.us
and follow the links to view the new system.