New voting machines working great

The new voting machines appear to be working almost perfectly.
“Everybody says the system is working and they enjoy working with it,” said Democratic Registrar Bob Badal.
He said that as of 1 p.m., 1,933 Democrats had cast their ballots. That’s 15 percent of the 12,864 eligible voters, Badal said.
During the 2003 Democratic mayoral primary, where Gerard Couture defeated Joe Wilson by a 55-45 margin, a total of 25.7 percent of Democrats voted. But that total may have been bolstered somewhat by a City Council primary that was held simultaneously.
Badal said that one counting machine, at Stafford School, failed to operate properly this morning.
It had tested perfectly, Badal said, but it didn’t work at the polling place. “Something must have happened to the memory card” during the move, he said.
A backup machine was used instead so there was never a hitch in the voting, “not one second, not one vote” was lost, Badal said.
He said that poll moderators are finding the new machines easy to use, although they have the normal first-time jitters.
Badal said he hadn’t heard of any voter complaints or problems.
He said that he and Republican Registrar Ellie Klapatch are working side-by-side to make sure everything goes smoothly.
A couple of representatives from the secretary of state’s office came by to check on how the voting was going, Badal said, apparently part of a statewide effort to make certain the new electronic machines are doing the job.

*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com