GILROY
– The vast majority of voters thought new touch-screen voting
machines were easy, fast and comfortable to use, according to
clerks and voters at two city precincts Tuesday.
Some voters, however, reported a concern to poll clerks that the
computers offer precious little privacy. With their front-facing
screens and large, easy-to-read print, a person’s picks could
easily be read by passers-by, some voters told poll clerks in the
South Valley Middle School gym.
GILROY – The vast majority of voters thought new touch-screen voting machines were easy, fast and comfortable to use, according to clerks and voters at two city precincts Tuesday.
Some voters, however, reported a concern to poll clerks that the computers offer precious little privacy. With their front-facing screens and large, easy-to-read print, a person’s picks could easily be read by passers-by, some voters told poll clerks in the South Valley Middle School gym.
It wasn’t actually much of a problem, South Valley clerks said. Voters there were too few to be lined up near each other, clerks were sitting far enough away to not be able to read screens, and the new system was simply so quick that most people’s votes were up on the screen for only seconds. Still, clerks said, most voters did their choosing on the machine at the end of the row, furthest from the door and the sign-in table.
In general, however, people’s responses to the machines at South Valley were “all very positive,” according to clerk Luis Molina. Clerks said the way the computers sped up the voting process was a plus – or would have been if enough voters had turned out to warrant it.
“We could have handled three times the number of voters,” clerk Jean Lance said.
Across town at a precinct in inspector Ruby Hart’s Redwood Lane garage, the new voting method “was well accepted by essentially everyone,” clerk Norm Thompson said.
“We only had one negative response, from a gentleman who said he didn’t trust their accuracy,” clerk Linda Wishart said. “He works with computers.”
Voters asked about the new system had no complaints. If any missed the old punch-card system, used as recently as October, they didn’t say so.
“It’s easy,” Arthur Ragan, 19, said after voting on one of the new computers in Hart’s garage. “I don’t mind the punch ones either, but whatever.”
Sue James thought the computers were great “as long as the power doesn’t go out.” After clerks told her each machine had a battery backup, she changed her assessment to “perfect.”
Sonia and Alex Wykoff were less than enthusiastic, but not critical either.
“I thought both systems were fine,” Sonia said. “I just don’t want there to be any more controversy over voting systems, so if this solves that, fine – but I don’t think it will.”
The machines cost the county nearly $19 million.
