http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060106/NEWS01/601060375/1002/NEWS
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Residents, elections officials try new types of machines
Joseph Spector
Staff writer
(January 6, 2006) — Nadine Parson was living in Florida
during the 2000 presidential election, so she appreciates the importance of
well-functioning voting machines.
"If we can come up with the computer and the iPod, why
can't we come up with a voting system that doesn't require recounts?" said
Parson, 51, who now lives in Brighton.
The future of voting in New York was on display Thursday at
the Dome Center in Henrietta as seven types of voting machines were shown to
help residents understand upcoming changes and to help elections officials
decide which ones to install.
And the scene Thursday illustrated that people are taking a
strong interest in their voting process. Thousands of people were expected, and
deep lines formed at each machine.
"I see more people here than when I go to vote,"
joked Newcomb Losh, 52, of Fairport.
Monroe County elections officials organized the event
because new voting machines are to be in place in time for this year's
September primary.
The goal was to have people try out the different machines,
then fill out surveys on their preferences.
"The idea is to reach out to people," said Thomas
Ferrarese, an elections commissioner.
After the 2000 election, the federal government adopted the
Help America Vote Act requiring states to implement new regulations this year.
New York plans to adopt new regulations next month. The
state will certify machines; then county boards will pick which machines they
want.
The event showcased two variations of touch screens, like
ATMs, and optical scans for paper ballots.
The new machines will replace the mechanical lever-type
machines that date back to the 1960s.
"I always liked the old mechanical machines," said
Jerry Seward, 47, an elections coordinator from Chili. "But time marches
on."
[imag]
MAX SCHULTE staff photographer
Lisa Hoffman of Rochester, who is blind, tests the
audio-only mode on a computerized voting machine at the Dome Center in
Henrietta on Thursday. Elections officials displayed seven types of machines
for residents to try out.
What you can do
Draft voting machine regulations may be obtained by calling
the state Board of Elections at (518) 474-1953 or by contacting any county
board of elections. They may also be viewed at www.elections.state.ny.us.
The board will accept comments on the draft regulations
through Jan. 23. Write to N.Y.S. Board of Elections, 40 Steuben St., Albany, NY
12207-2108, or e-mail ldaghlian@elections.state.ny.us.
JSPECTOR@DemocratandChronicle.com
Copyright © 2006 Rochester Democrat and Chronicle | 55
Exchange Boulevard | Rochester, NY 14614 | (585) 232-7100. All rights reserved.
FAIR USE NOTICE
This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of political, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.