Martin Democrats committee: If you doubt machines, vote absentee

That's what local party members concerned about the lack of a hardcopy record of their individual vote are hearing.

By Jim Turner staff writer
June 23, 2004

MARTIN COUNTY — Vote while you cook. Vote during a commercial. Or simply relax in shorts and a T-shirt as you fill out an absentee ballot on the back porch, free of election-day hassles.

Vote early and at your leisure is the message the county Democrats Executive Committee intends to send local party members concerned about the lack of a hardcopy record of their individual vote while using electronic voting machines.

Committee members agreed Monday to stress absentee ballots as they restate a request for the county to create a paper backup of individual votes.

"That's just going to be part of the plank. If you feel uneasy about using electronic voting, vote absentee," said committee Chairman Terence Nolan. "I think it's something that is not just a Democratic issue, it's something that crosses both party lines."

The county, which never had paper records to accompany the pull-lever machines that were in use prior to the 2000 election, may be headed towards a paper trail, said Supervisor of Elections Peggy Robbins.

"At this point they have the technology," Robbins said. "I could see it being ready for the fall. It depends upon how soon it could be approved."

The county awaits state approval of paper recording equipment that could be fitted to the Electronic Systems and Software's iVotronic voting machines, along with the county commission approval and funding, she said.

A big hurdle towards installing an internal counter or paper dispenser for each of the 767 machines would be funding. No cost estimates have been made and the county has yet to designate funding for the work, Robbins said.

Meghan McCormick, spokeswoman for ES&S of Omaha, Neb., said installation for the Nov. 2 elections could be overly optimistic.

The company has a prototype of a paper dispensing apparatus ready to go. However, in addition to finding local funding, McCormick expects that any state certification would require some modifications, delaying implementation.

"We have full confidence in the system," McCormick said. "We just need to know what we need to do."

Voters only need to request an absentee ballot from the elections office by phone or in writing. The elections office will mail them out up until the Friday prior to an election and they are available at the election's office up to the day of the election.