Heading into the election Tuesday, some voters saw a new way to cast their votes at the polls.
Lowndes and Oktibbeha voters used pens to fill in bubbles next to their vote. Once a voter filled out their ballot, they inserted it into an on-site machine to confirm their vote.
The machine scans a PDF of the ballot, records and tabulates the votes on a flash drive, then stores the hard copies of the ballots in a locked compartment inside, which will help should a recount be necessary.
In years past, voters used a touch screen machine to cast their votes.
Lowndes County Circuit Clerk Teresa Barksdale said overall the new system with paper ballots and one counting machine was much easier to use for her and the poll workers, and she’s heard nothing but good things from those who voted.
“I’ve heard nothing but good comments,” Barksdale said. “They loved the paper ballots because you have a paper trail. People like to see that on paper. They still put it into a machine, but that serves as a counter which is strictly what that machine does. It also still gives the option to ‘cast ballot’ if you decide you messed up or change your mind. It doesn’t just immediately take it right in. You have to hit ‘cast ballot.’ Everybody likes that paper trail.”
Oktibbeha County Circuit Clerk Tony Rook agreed and said voters have responded positively to the new change.
“… In general, the paper ballots work extremely well for us, and we have received very positive feedback,” Rook said in a text message to The Dispatch. “They are very efficient, increase voter confidence, and help ensure a secure election.”
Doug Bedsaul, a voter in Oktibbeha County, said while he had no problems with the computer system, he does like the new system with a paper ballot but he wished he knew before going into the polls there was a new system.
“I had no problem with the paper ballots, and nonissue with the reader,” Bedsaul said. “It seemed just as fast as the previous process. … I was unaware that it would be paper ballots, electronically counted, this time. Perhaps there could be more info about that beforehand next time.”
However, some did not like the use of paper ballots and the submission process. Caledonia voter Lauren Barker said privacy was an issue after filling out her ballot at the polling station.
“After signing in and being handed a ballot, I went to a private voting booth – that part, no issue at all,” Barker said. “My problem came when it was time to turn in my ballot. I did not like that I had to hand my ballot over to someone else. I did not appreciate being questioned about not casting a vote in certain races. While they couldn’t see who I actually cast my vote for in each race, they could see which races I refrained from voting in. I did not feel it was appropriate to be questioned about my voting decisions.”
State-wide transition to paper ballots
This was the first election in Lowndes County to use paper ballots, and according to a new state law that passed April 19, all counties in Mississippi must officially move to using paper ballots by Jan. 1, 2024.
Barksdale said as far as she knows, about 50 percent of Mississippi counties have made the switch to paper ballots from the outdated computer systems. She said starting this election cycle allows workers and voters to understand the system better.
“We saw that it was a good time because we knew we were going to have to make the transition, so the commissioners and myself just decided it was time to take the plunge and do that,” Barksdale said.
Paper ballots with one machine, or two machines in larger precincts, are more cost effective, Barksdale said. The machines used in elections prior had difficult upkeep because there was trouble finding parts as they had been in use for roughly 20 years.
The old machines in Lowndes County were traded in and helped cover the cost of the 25 new machines that are placed throughout the county on election day. The new machines also helped with counting, as Barksdale said her workers brought her the USBs from each machine roughly an hour earlier than they did before.
“Most of our poll workers that bring the returns back were (at the courthouse) by about 8:15 p.m.,” Barksdale said. “In the past, it was 9 to 9:30 p.m. before they would get to the courthouse, and they love it. … We hope the public appreciates us going to the paper ballots, and we hope everybody is as excited about it as we are.”
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