July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.

Second look at voting system set (5/19/04)

Commissioners to review push-button system June 7

By By Mike [email protected]

A second look at the new voting system favored by the county clerk might help Jay County Commissioners decide if a new system will be coming sooner rather than later.

The commissioners, who have moved slowly on a decision that doesn’t actually have to be made before the primary election of 2006, are expected to review a push-button display system they first saw in February on Monday, June 7.

Some concerns have been raised nationally about creating a traceable paper trail for recount purposes, and Steve Shamo of MicroVote General Corp. plans to show the commissioners a printer that can be hooked into the voting system to print individual ballots or summaries.

Runyon, who discussed the voting system with the commissioners Monday, said this morning that she prefers the MicroVote system over an optical scan system from Fidlar Election.

“If (the commissioners) want to (switch systems) by fall, I’d like to get it done so I could have at least one machine that I can take around and go to the Lions Club and sororities and whoever would have me. I’d probably set up a couple of public meetings,” said Runyon. “I think it’s pretty important (the public) sees it up front. If the commissioners choose to wait, then we’ll deal with it. We’ll use punch cards again (in the fall).”

Although the MicroVote system carries a higher initial cost of approximately $237,000 to $124,000 for the Fidlar system, the annual maintenance and expenses for MicroVote are just $6,000 compared to $24,000 for Fidlar.

Up to $167,000 in federal funds might be available to reimburse the county for replacement of its current punch-card voting system. Federal election reforms following the controversial 2000 presidential election in Florida mandated that punch cards could not be used after 2006.

In other business Monday, Commissioners Gary Theurer, Mike Leonhard and Milo Miller Jr.:

•Replaced a member of the Jay County Hospital Board and re-appointed another. Ken Walters, who has been a member of the board for almost 16 years, will be replaced June 1 by rural Portland resident John Nill, who is the president and chief executive officer of Jay County REMC. The commissioners also re-appointed rural Portland resident Dean Jetter to a second four-year term on the board.

•Set a public hearing on a septic replacement loan request for Monday, June 7 at 10 a.m. The request is being made by David and Marian Younger, who live north of Redkey on Ind. 1.[[In-content Ad]]
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