Medina fairgoers vote in favor of machines

Diebold touch screens simple and easy to use, say most at exhibition

By Jeffrey E. McCants    Akron Beacon Journal    03 August 2005

MEDINA - People who visit the Medina County Fair won't have to wait until the next election to test touch-screen voting.

They can just stop by a display at the fairgrounds to inspect and try machines that are making chads a memory.

Medina, like the rest of Ohio's counties, is being forced to do away with punch-card ballots.

But unlike some counties where elections officials are still debating which new system to Medina officials always wanted touch screens.

Initially, there were some concerns about electronic voting. There was a fear that someone could hack into the computer-based voting machine and votes could be changed. There was also the problem of not having a physical record of the votes.

However, those concerns were addressed. And once Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell gave the OK for touch-screen machines, Medina moved forward.

Medina County bought 636 voting machines from Diebold Inc. of Green. They will be used for the first time in November.

In the meantime, fairgoers can see the machines this week.

Connected to the machine is a printing system that allows local voting officials to maintain a paper trail.

Voters make their initial ions on the computer. Then, before casting their final e-ballot, voters can verify that the hard copy which appears under a plastic screen next to the computer matches their electronic ions.

Many people who were daring enough to approach the television monitors found the voting process simple to use and a step up from the previous method.

``It's really nice because you can go back and see what you really punched,'' said Marsha Kalac, a 44-year-old resident of Chatham Township.

Kalac was accompanied by her son, Kevin. Although the 13-year-old will not be of age to vote for some time, he said that the program was so simple that ``a cave man could use it.''

Most people had no trouble using the new system, but many expressed fears that some people will not be able to figure out how to work the machines.

``I just hope it doesn't confuse some of the elderly people,'' said Katie Emery, 20, of Medina. ``I'm thinking of my grandma.''

Connie Stafinski, 50, of Medina didn't think it was solely age that would turn people away. She said that people who don't like change probably would have problems with the new machines, too.

But Sally Chrissanthis, 70, of Medina, a Medina County Fair official, doesn't believe the new system will deter those who are old enough to remember paper ballots and pencils.

``I think people will have to be re-educated in the voting system,'' Chrissanthis said. ``It's going to take a little training, but I think it will be good.''

Although Chrissanthis likes the idea of voting machines, she admitted that she was glad to have someone walk her through the process. But in the end, she was happy with the method.

``Seems kind of foolproof to me,'' she said.