July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
New voting system approved (7/20/04)
Jay voters will choose on new equipment in November
When voters go to the polls for the Nov. 2 general election in Jay County, they will cast their ballots on a new push-button voting system.
Ending a process that became inevitable when federal voting reforms were passed several years ago, Jay County Commissioners approved the purchase Monday of 50 voting machines from MicroVote General Corp. Election Solutions.
The machines feature a video display with buttons along the side that are pushed to select candidates.
The total cost of the package, including panels, cases, software, precinct kits, smart cards and a computer allotment, is $237,250.
Jay County clerk Jane Ann Runyon, who made the recommendation to select MicroVote to the commissioners, said today that as much as $218,000 could be received as grants from the federal government. A total of $67,000 should be available relatively quickly after a grant application is submitted.
After problems in Florida in the presidential election in 2000, the federal government effectively outlawed the punch-card ballots that have been used for years in Jay and other counties around the nation. Those ballots may not be used after 2005.
“I think the biggest thing that swayed me would be recommendations from other clerks and election boards. The system’s been used widely in the state, and I’ve not heard the first bad word about it,” Runyon said.
Runyon, who says she would not have switched from the current system if not forced to by law, said she should have the first panels in her hands by early-to-mid September. She plans extensive public testing/training sessions, as well as extra training for poll workers.
She plans open house events, as well as possibly making appearances at meetings of service clubs and community organizations.
The discussions about voting system have gone on for more than a year. Commissioners Gary Theurer, Mike Leonhard and Milo Miller Jr. first looked at the MicroVote system in February of this year.
“It’s a relief (to have the process over),” Runyon said. “I just hope it’s the right decision. We’ll just have to wait and see how it works out.”
Also Monday, the commissioners got more details on proposals for contracts to supply all of the county’s cell phones.
Ralph Frazee, director of Jay County Emergency Management Agency, told the commissioners that per-phone rates in proposals from Centennial Wireless and Verizon Wireless range from about $29 to $34 per month, depending on options in each plan.
The county currently is paying for 26 cell phones at an approximate average cost of $38 per month.
Frazee estimated Monday that entering into a contract in which all phones are through one provider could save as much as $200 per month.
Frazee was given permission by the commissioners to check into options. The commissioners took no action on Monday, but asked Frazee to invite representatives from both companies to meet with them on Monday, July 26.
Also Monday, the commissioners:
•Approved the first reading of an amendment to a ordinance regarding stop signs at the intersection of county roads 575 south and 600 West in Jefferson Township. The commissioners plan on making the intersection a three-way stop.
The intersection is not a 90-degree angle, but features a curve where county roads 575 South and 600 West come together. County road 600 West also continues to the north.
Currently, the only stop is on westbound county road 575 South. The commissioners received a complaint about safety at the intersection on Monday.
•OK’d the use of county economic development income tax money to fund an update of the county’s two-phase strategic development plan and countywide vision plan.
The task will be coordinated by Jay County Development Corporation and will be done by a team from Ball State University.
Approximately half of the $25,000 cost of the project will be paid by private sources, JCDC executive director Robert Quadrozzi said.[[In-content Ad]]
Ending a process that became inevitable when federal voting reforms were passed several years ago, Jay County Commissioners approved the purchase Monday of 50 voting machines from MicroVote General Corp. Election Solutions.
The machines feature a video display with buttons along the side that are pushed to select candidates.
The total cost of the package, including panels, cases, software, precinct kits, smart cards and a computer allotment, is $237,250.
Jay County clerk Jane Ann Runyon, who made the recommendation to select MicroVote to the commissioners, said today that as much as $218,000 could be received as grants from the federal government. A total of $67,000 should be available relatively quickly after a grant application is submitted.
After problems in Florida in the presidential election in 2000, the federal government effectively outlawed the punch-card ballots that have been used for years in Jay and other counties around the nation. Those ballots may not be used after 2005.
“I think the biggest thing that swayed me would be recommendations from other clerks and election boards. The system’s been used widely in the state, and I’ve not heard the first bad word about it,” Runyon said.
Runyon, who says she would not have switched from the current system if not forced to by law, said she should have the first panels in her hands by early-to-mid September. She plans extensive public testing/training sessions, as well as extra training for poll workers.
She plans open house events, as well as possibly making appearances at meetings of service clubs and community organizations.
The discussions about voting system have gone on for more than a year. Commissioners Gary Theurer, Mike Leonhard and Milo Miller Jr. first looked at the MicroVote system in February of this year.
“It’s a relief (to have the process over),” Runyon said. “I just hope it’s the right decision. We’ll just have to wait and see how it works out.”
Also Monday, the commissioners got more details on proposals for contracts to supply all of the county’s cell phones.
Ralph Frazee, director of Jay County Emergency Management Agency, told the commissioners that per-phone rates in proposals from Centennial Wireless and Verizon Wireless range from about $29 to $34 per month, depending on options in each plan.
The county currently is paying for 26 cell phones at an approximate average cost of $38 per month.
Frazee estimated Monday that entering into a contract in which all phones are through one provider could save as much as $200 per month.
Frazee was given permission by the commissioners to check into options. The commissioners took no action on Monday, but asked Frazee to invite representatives from both companies to meet with them on Monday, July 26.
Also Monday, the commissioners:
•Approved the first reading of an amendment to a ordinance regarding stop signs at the intersection of county roads 575 south and 600 West in Jefferson Township. The commissioners plan on making the intersection a three-way stop.
The intersection is not a 90-degree angle, but features a curve where county roads 575 South and 600 West come together. County road 600 West also continues to the north.
Currently, the only stop is on westbound county road 575 South. The commissioners received a complaint about safety at the intersection on Monday.
•OK’d the use of county economic development income tax money to fund an update of the county’s two-phase strategic development plan and countywide vision plan.
The task will be coordinated by Jay County Development Corporation and will be done by a team from Ball State University.
Approximately half of the $25,000 cost of the project will be paid by private sources, JCDC executive director Robert Quadrozzi said.[[In-content Ad]]
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