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Beginning with the March 7, 2006
Democratic and Republican Primary Elections, the eSlate polling place
voting system and the Ballot Now digital ballot imaging system from
Hart InterCivic, Inc. will replace our 20-year old central-count,
optical scan system. If you are an absentee voter, you will vote
on a paper ballot. If you vote in person, you will vote on a state-of-the-art
voting system on which over seven million votes have been cast accurately
and securely.
I want to take this opportunity to share some system facts with
you.
- Our system is secure. From the generation of the ballot by
our office to the tabulation of votes at our centralized counting
center, security measures are in place to ensure no unauthorized
individual has access to the system. Neither the vote tabulation
program nor any other component of the eSlate System is ever connected
to the Internet or an external network at any time.
- Our system is accurate. The eSlate system uses a state-of-the-art
optical encoder, called the SELECT wheel to navigate through the
ballot. This technology provides 100% positional accuracy at all
times.
- Our system is durable. Because the eSlate is not a touch screen,
it is extremely durable, withstanding most harm from rough treatment,
thus eliminating the costs of repair.
- Our system is easy to use. Whether voting absentee on our new
paper ballot or in person on the eSlate, a review of the system
on this website will show how simple each is to use. No computer
experience is necessary – the voting machine is as easy
to use as your household washing machine! The eSlate also meets
all federal accessibility requirements.
- Our system is truly multilingual. As required by the Voting
Rights Act, ballots will be printed in both English and Spanish.
Voters who vote on the eSlate at the polls during Early Voting
or on Election Day will choose between an English, Spanish, or
Vietnamese ballot.
In an effort to ensure all voters are aware of the new voting system
and how to use it, we will be providing voter education through
a number of venues: live demonstrations, newsletters, Websites,
emails, newspapers, and videos on cable television stations.
Please see the additional information below, and be sure to try
the flash demo on this website by clicking on the picture of the
eSlate to “take the eSlate for a spin.” And, as always,
if you have questions about the new system or would like to find
out more about becoming a poll worker, please call us at (936) 539-7843
Carol Gaultney
Montgomery County Elections Administrator |
