Posted on 10/29/2004 12:34:22 PM PDT by chris9soccer
Thought it would be helpful to some who have not seen the new electronic voting machines to get a description of what to expect from a general sense to avoid some potential anxieties.
The machines are about the size of 20-25 inch tv screens and are touch screen, surrounded by blinders typical of election set-ups in the past.
1. Arrive with your voter card (or whatever your state accepts) and sign in next to your name just as in every other election.
2. You will go to a booth and an election official will insert a device which looks sort of like a black video game cartridge or battery pack. This resets the computer from the last voter and begins your session.
3. The first screen or two will display all the candidates for all the presidential and different state and local races. Races that don't fit on the 1st page will be on a subsequent page that is reached by touching the 'Forward' or 'Next' icon on the bottom of the screen with your finger.
4. You will then touch the box on the screeen next to your candidate of choice. If you choose the wrong one you can touch the box again and it will undo your selection. You can then make a new selection. The box next to your selection will turn green and I believe a check mark will also appear.
5. ***Important to note*** There is an option to choose "straight ticket". You can do this but you will have to make a separate selection for your choice on President. For instance, checking the straight ticket choice for Republican will not make an automatic selection of Bush for President. This is the same for the Democrat straight ticket option as well. Those choosing that route will have to also select Kerry individually. **Make sure you do not undervote for President by mistake** Unless you're voting for Kerry.
6. Some local races may allow you to vote for 2 people such as your state house races. You can select two people and the machine will not allow you to select a third by mistake. You'd have to undo one of your selections before being able to select the other. You are able to undervote however. If you only vote for 1 or none that is fine. This will be seen at the end on the summary page. If you only voted for one and you meant to vote for two you can always go back and make your additional vote then advance to the final screen and press 'Vote'.
7. As you advance you will eventually reach the memorandums which you can read through then press yes or no on the screen.
8. Once past the referendums and through all the races and you've made all your selections, the final page will show a summary of your choices.
9. If you agree with the summary and you double check you didn't make any mistakes, you will press a flashing red vote button that is part of the machine at the top of the screen. At that point your vote is recorded.
10. Until you press the vote button you can always go back and make changes or corrections by pressing the 'Back' icon on the screen. Changes can be made by going back to the race selection you want to change, press the box to undo your selection then select the candidate you want. Then advance to the final screen, double check the summary then press 'Vote' button.
11. The machine will not allow you to 'vote' and exit the system until you've at least viewed every page. You can undervote and only vote for President but you at least need to advance through each page before the 'Vote' button will flash and accept your final. decision.
12. Each race will have a write in option. If you press this box, a screen with a keyboard will come up. Just press the keys on the screen to type out the write-in's name and select the button on the screen that says 'Next'.
Please get out and vote and vote 'Bush'. Don't assume any victory in any state. Every vote counts. The electronic machines are simple to use and should not intimidate anyone. Remember, you can always go back and make corrections before hitting the 'Vote' button. Nothing is recorded until you do that so don't worry if you made a mistake. Just correct it and move on. They are not much different than the ATM machines we are all accustomed to.
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