Voters test out new machines
Last Update: 11/03 7:19 pm
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Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - For many of us, voting Election Day meant our first chance to try out new voting machines -- machines which will be the norm in New York after this Election Day. They're meant to make the voting process more equal for people with disabilities.
In Oswego County, voters found lever machines replaced with this new technology. Most voters, like Clark Francis, said they knew what to expect with the new machines. “I did it at the county fair so I knew just what it was,” he said.
There were plenty of questions, but few mistakes, as voters got used to a lever-less Election Day. “This is great. You mark down your choices, you follow the instructions and you just put it through the machine very easy,” voter Edward Cashmere said.
Every voter we spoke to agreed they like the privacy booths because they feel they have as much time as they need to fill in the squares correctly. They don't feel rushed as they did using the lever machines.
“To me it's a lot simpler because when I went in the lever booth I felt I had to get in and out and let other people in,” said Francis
“It’s just a little longer, but not much,” voter Shel Staves said. “The hardest thing was making sure you had the squares completely covered I guess!”
“On the ones where it said you could vote for 2 people that was confusing but the single candidates were easier,” voter Kelley Raunec said.
Elections commissioners hope that by rolling out the machines in a year with few big contests, they'll be able to iron out any issues before major seats are at stake.
We did hear from some concerned about your privacy with this new way of voting . Most counties give you privacy folders to put the ballot in as you walk from the privacy booth to the voting machines. In Onondaga County, only disabled voters get the folders.
Elections commissioner Helen Kiggins says for people worried about their privacy, you should hold the ballot upside down in a way no one can see your selections.
If you have a question or make a mistake and an inspector looks at your ballot, you can get a new ballot.
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