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Polling machine problems at Corzine's voting station

By Thad Hall

The only election problem noted online this morning is this story:

HOBOKEN -- Gov. Corzine cast his vote in the state's presidential primary after neither of the voting machines worked at his Hoboken polling place. Eyewitness News is told Corzine was originally scheduled to cast his ballot at 6:15 a.m at the Hoboken Fire Department Engine Company No. 2 on Washington Street. But the two voting machines didn't work for about 45 minutes and about a dozen voters were turned away.

However, one machine was fixed, and Corzine arrived just before 7 a.m. to cast his ballot. The governor said the weather is holding up for the state's first presidential primary in February. "We're doing pretty well. We're doing like the Giants," Corzine said.

Looking on the New Jersey Secretary of State's website, they list voting systems by county. Once you read the description below (taken from the vendor's website), you will realize that the system in question combines ancient technology with all of the downside of full-face voting machines. These are not touchscreens but instead are, in essence, an electronic lever machine.

In continuous use since 1988, the AVC Advantage is a freestanding, full-faced DRE unit that combines the benefits of e-voting with the familiarity and speed of the full ballot display.

Voters simply make their selections electronically by pressing buttons on the ballot, voting confidently thanks to the unit?s advanced electronic accuracy and security. The AVC Advantage?s tactile voting switch visual indicator provides tangible feedback to the voter, confirming that it has correctly recorded the voter?s selections. Its large candidate area accommodates large type for easy-to-read ballots, and it is capable of recording write-in votes.

The AVC Advantage is manufactured with advanced, industrial-strength electronics and solid-state memory, with no disk drives or moving parts to fail. Designed to be easily maneuvered by just one person, the AVC Advantage rolls on four large rubber casters with a five-inch clearance and is quick and easy to set up.

Full post as published by Election Updates on February 05, 2008 (boomark / email).