Voters Have Mixed Reactions to Electronic Machines
Coordinators said there was a high turn out and many different opinions on the voting machines.
Coordinators at Holy Cross Lutheran Church and Commack High School said they think the new machines are a good method for voting, while some voters disagree.
Carole Regina, coordinator at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, said there haven't been any problems with the three machines so far this morning and that turnout has been high.
Mary-Ann Zielinski, coordinator at Commack High School, said voters were waiting for them at 6 a.m. this morning.
"We had a line when we arrived and it's been steady ever since. It's good that they are voting, some people are bringing their children because of the school closures," she said.
At Commack High School there are six machines and about 15 privacy booths. Zielinski said the ballots are explained by posters on the back wall of the gym, to allow voters to understand the new process. She said the machines are efficient and allow you to see immediately if the ballot has been processed.
Voters are allowed to attempt the process three times, something Bill Savary, a Commack resident, was grateful for.
"Originally I wasn't pleased, but I understand the scan, need for electronic records and the three scans are going to be good for some people. It worked the first time for me, it was pretty simple," Savary said.
Mike DiMartino, a Commack resident, however, is still unsure of the privacy in this new process.
"I liked the old ones. It is my first time using the new machines, I didn't vote in September, and I am afraid someone will be able to read my ballot as they enter it into the machine," DiMartino said.
Zielinski said voters are given a privacy sleeve to cover the ballot while placing it in the machine, to avoid issues like the one presented by DiMartino, but some refuse it.
Gary Saporta, Commack resident, said the machines made the process a lot easier and allowed him to vote quickly.
Rita Beckman, a Commack resident, agreed and said that everything worked well as she had hoped it would.
Jerry Wenig, election volunteer at Commack High School, disagrees.
"I don't like the machines, it takes too long. Voters have to register at the desk, take a ballot, head to the privacy booth and then submit their ballot. It's not as much privacy, the ballots are handled too much," Wenig said.
Wenig also noted that it is an exceptional turnout for a midterm election and said he thinks it is because of all the problems on Long Island with the economy, unemployment and nation-wide issues like social security and Medicaid.
CommackMom
10:59 am on Tuesday, November 2, 2010
I'm definitely not a fan of the new system. I felt like I had no privacy and the volunteers were nearly having conversations with me while I was filling out the ballot. Then they physically took the form from me, put it in the machine, and hit the button.
I also preferred the old machines because I remembered it being a positive experience. Growing up, my parents let us hit the switches and pull the lever. I think it helped instill in me a sense that we were making a choice and hopefully having an impact on our country. Today, I sat my son on the floor with a few toys while I filled out a form that reminded me of an SAT exam. Not exactly exciting. At least make my life convenient and let me vote at home from my computer.
Victoria Reitano
11:17 am on Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Hi Marcy,
Thanks for sharing this comment with us! We're going to make you our "Comment of the Day," please encourage your friends to comment as well as we'd love to get a discussion going.
Thanks!
Victoria
Kathy
11:08 am on Thursday, November 4, 2010
I agree with Marcy, the new system has absolutely no privacy. When I fed my ballot into the scanner, it kicked it back out and said it was unable to read or process the ballot. The election worker grabbed it and read all my votes to make sure I filled in the correct circles, which I had. The worker was at a loss so at this point, my son suggested spinning the paper around to see if that made a difference, which we did and my vote was accepted. These privacy sleeves are a complete joke as everyone around you can see who you are voting for when you are filling out the ballot. I am also very uncomfortable about using computers, too much tampering can occur without anyone knowing. The mechanical voting machines were completely private and, in my opinion, less vulnerable to tampering.