Every vote matters; every vote counts in this state

e-mail this story discuss this issue in our forums Guest column • Marci Andino: Every vote matters; every vote counts in this state (10/19/04) • Calvin M. Snipes: Legislature should stop blowing smoke with health care (10/18/04) • Edwin Leap: Children inhabit an adorably bizarre parallel universe (10/17/04) • Leo I. Higdon Jr.: College's impact felt far beyond Charleston (10/17/04) • Louis Partin: Let's play ball - in Greenville (10/16/04) More details Marci Andino is the executive director of the South Carolina Election Commission. For more information about the new electronic touch screen voting machines, visit http://www.scvotes.org/.

This is the first step in a process that will create a uniform voting system across South Carolina by 2006.

Working with county election commissions and organizations representing a broad range of South Carolinians, the South Carolina State Election Commission is now implementing a progressive plan to provide our state's voters with a touch screen voting system that is easy to use, accurate, secure and fast.

The theme of this initiative "Every Vote Matters. Every Vote Counts." appropriately addresses the concerns of citizens across South Carolina and the nation: ensuring that every citizen has the opportunity to vote and that every citizen's vote is counted. In South Carolina, the objective is to take an already good voting system and make it even better, by ensuring even greater reliability and consistency across the state's election system.

Through the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA), federal funds are paying for 95 percent of the new touch screen voting machines, as well as poll worker training programs and a vigorous voter education effort. HAVA was enacted in the wake of the Florida voting controversy of 2000 and, as we head into yet another presidential election cycle, we are glad to see that South Carolina is making sure that we are not "the next Florida."

Certainly there has been healthy debate nationally and at state and county levels about the potential pros and cons of various new voting systems, especially as it relates to security.

Fortunately, South Carolina has chosen a system that incorporates advanced security features.

System security is ensured by using a closed system with multiple security measures. For example, voting data is stored in three independent memory locations, making it virtually impossible for votes to be lost or altered. Furthermore, the voting machine itself is never connected to a computer network or the Internet, eliminating the possibility of "hacking," and each machine operates independently so there is no possibility of a "network crash."

Voting itself is easy. Voters select their candidates or cast referendum votes by simply touching a selection on the screen. Once completed, a final review screen allows voters to review and change their ballot before pushing a single red "vote" button to cast their ballot. The act of pushing the red "vote" button is just like dropping a ballot into the ballot box.

The touch screen machine reminds voters if they have forgotten to vote on every item on a ballot, and it will not allow voters to vote for more candidates than allowed. And, for the first time in election history, blind or visually impaired South Carolinians will be able to use an audio ballot to cast their votes in private and without assistance.

There will be no "hanging chads" in South Carolina. The touch screen machines provide clear, accurate results, and prevent votes from being altered, lost or miscounted. Each voting machine is tested prior to being certified for use, and the voting system as a whole is tested to make sure votes are accurately tallied. Perhaps most importantly, the machines maintain a paper audit trail that allows for a highly accurate recount should one become necessary.

Because it is so easy to use, the touch-screen voting system should help voters move through the voting process more quickly, reducing long lines and waiting time. Votes can be tabulated more rapidly once the polls close, so the entire voting process will be faster and more efficient, and accurate election results can be determined more quickly.

Educating approximately 750,000 voters about the new touch screen machines is a significant task. To accomplish this, state and county election officials are implementing an aggressive outreach plan in the 15 counties using the new machines. This effort includes advertising and direct mail, as well as bringing the touch screen machines to festivals, special events and other public venues so as many voters as possible will have the opportunity to see, touch and become comfortable with using the machines before Election Day. Some of that effort has already begun in the counties, and more is coming.

So, as South Carolina once again leads the nation in voting progress, we encourage voters to take advantage of the opportunities to learn about the new touch screen voting system read the materials, go to a demonstration and help ensure the success of the new system.

Let's ensure that in South Carolina, every vote matters, every vote counts.