County adds touch screen voting
By Audrey Blackwell, Okeechobee News    03 August 2005
 
Gwen Chandler (left), elections supervisor for Okeechobee County, said she is pleased with the addition of touch screen voting machines that were delivered to her office Tuesday. Michelle Beck (right) is an election specialist technician and helped to set up the Diebold equipment. She and fellow technicians worked to ensure the equipment operates properly. Okeechobee News/Audrey Blackwell  

Twenty-two touch screen units were purchased by the County of Okeechobee to meet mandates of the federal Help America Vote Act, prompted by voting problems in the 2000 presidential election.

There are 18 voting precincts in Okeechobee County. However, Supervisor of Elections Gwen Chandler said they ordered a couple extra ones because they want to make sure they have backups, if needed, and are well prepared come election time.

Mrs. Chandler said she is very pleased with the additional voting machines.

"The new voting machines will ensure, for the first time, that citizens who are sight-impaired can vote a secret ballot without the assistance of others," she said.

Mrs. Chandler said she witnessed those unable to see or read to vote independently in the 2004 election.

"I'm excited to think what the new units permit people to do," she said.

Representatives from the disability community will be available to help set up the equipment during an election.

Okeechobee will continue using paper ballots but those who are sight-impaired, unable to read, or unable to vote on a paper ballot for other medical reasons will be able to use the new equipment. There is an audio component to help direct voters through the various screens and assist with write-in candidates.

Each touch screen unit cost $3,373 for a total bill of $79,000 for the hardware, training and basic services. An additional $5,700 went for additional hardware for backup cards and computer chips, according to Mrs. Chandler.

The good news is, however, that most of the money for the federally-mandated system was paid for by a grant from the Help America Vote Act.

"Federal monies paid $76,761, or 97 percent of the amount, which was fantastic," Mrs. Chandler said.

The new machines feature a combination touch screen and number pad that responds to finger pressure. Mrs. Chandler said using fingers on the key pad instead of a stylus should be easier to use.

"It is more user-friendly," she said.

The first general election is not planned until Sept. 5, 2006. However, the new touch screen voting equipment will be used earlier in the schools for such events as voting for homecoming queen, student council members and class officers for high school students. The machines can be used in middle schools and elementary schools, too.

Michelle Beck, election specialist technician who set up the units on Tuesday, said she knows of an elementary school that allowed the students to vote for their favorite Dr. Seuss book just so they could learn about the election process.

The federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 mandates that every state in the nation have accessible voting equipment in place by Jan. 1, 2006. However, some states are asking for a special exception, stating they will not be able to make the deadline, Mrs. Chandler said. She said in 2001 Florida changed their laws to accommodate accessible voting for all, but these machines were not available.