By Jeff Shultz
Publisher

A new election year brings plenty of challenges for county election officials.

This year election officials across the state must deal with new redistricting lines and the implementation of new voting machines.

And all of the pieces of each puzzle must be in place quickly as the first test of the new voting machines – and new polling places for some voters – will take place soon.

To prepare voters and precinct officials for the upcoming February 14 school elections, a mock election was held last week at the Garvin County Election Board as well as a special training session for precinct workers.

“We had just a handful of volunteers cast ballots during the mock election,” said Cathy Brinley, Garvin County Election Board Secretary.

“The precinct officials training went very well,” she added. “Each precinct was able to tally the ballots that were cast, run reports and send those reports to the State Election Board. I would say we’re as ready as we can be.

Brinley said voters will see a slightly different system when they go to the polls on February 14.

“The new voting system keeps the best parts of the old system – uniform equipment, standard procedures, and paper ballots counted by scanners – while utilizing technology to improve security and efficiency,” Brinley said.

Voters still will mark a paper ballot by hand and still will be able to depend on reliable and accurate scanners to count their ballots, she added.

However, voters will mark the paper ballot differently than in the past, Brinley noted.

“Instead of completing an arrow next to the candidate’s name, voters will now have to fill in a box next to the candidate’s name,” she said, noting an X or check mark in the square box next to the candidate’s name is not a valid vote.

“The new machines are also accessible for voters with disabilities.  An audio tactile interface allows voters with disabilities to cast audio versions of ballots independently and privately,” Brinley said.

The February 14 Annual School Election will affect voters in Maysville, Wynnewood and the Whitebead School Districts.

School patrons in Maysville will cast their ballots for Office No. 2 of the Maysville School Board. Candidates appearing on the ballot are Asheley Close, Mignon Zurline and Bruce Jones.

In Wynnewood, voters will choose between Kathy Stewart and Walsie May McLaughlin for the Office No. 2 post on that school board.

Whitebead voters will be deciding the fate of a $170,000 transportation bond issue.

The next election where all precincts will be active will be the Presidential Primary Election on March 6.

If you should have questions about the new voting system, or where you will be casting ballots in upcoming elections, call the Garvin County Election Board at 405-238-3303.