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Voters Set To Blaze New Trail Today

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 26, 2008

When Tampa Bay area voters go to the polls for today's primary elections, many will be leaving something they've desired for years - a paper trail of their selections.

The documentation should help boost public confidence in voting and minimize the potential for conflicts in a state still trying to recover from highly embarrassing election guffaws this decade.

The state-mandated switch from touch-screen systems to the optical-scan machines that will be used for the first time today in countywide primaries in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas doesn't guarantee smooth sailing, though.

Voters must be sure to clearly mark the inside of the oval beside the name of their candidates. If you don't, the scanner will reject the ballot. Voting for more than one candidate per race will lead to the same result.

The good news is twofold: First, you'll be given chances to make corrections, so take advantage. Second, if you've followed the correct procedure, your votes will be recorded and the ballot you filled out will end up in a secured box, establishing the paper trail that many people covet in the event of contested elections.

The optical-scan system is easy to use, but will require some readjustment for voters who had become accustomed to the paperless touch-screen voting systems.

Perhaps a successful run today and in November's general election will enable local supervisors of elections to finally stick with a system for more than four years. Because of past election problems, many Florida voters are faced with their third voting system in just eight years, which is absurd.

For voters, the main thing is to go to the polls. Today, some nonpartisan races for circuit judge and school board will be decided, and party nominees will be chosen for county commission and in other races crucial for local government.

And for supervisors of elections, an eye also needs to be on the general election in November.

Some voting rights advocates are urging elections officials throughout the nation to conduct voter usability tests on proposed ballots in advance of the November elections. It's an excellent idea, a way to determine whether ballot layout is confusing, such as the infamous Palm Beach County butterfly ballot in 2000, among other problems that could result in tainted elections. Changes then could be made before the ballot is finalized.

A simple test is not too much to ask. It could be done at very little expense, and the results could help Florida shed its image of a state that can't seem to get elections right.

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