Public Information Office
210 S. McDonald St. Suite 540
McKinney, TX  75069

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Sharon Rowe, CERA
Elections Administrator
972-633-3200

Leigh Hornsby, Public Information Officer
972-548-4772
publicrelations@co.collin.tx.us

August 26, 2003

Collin County voters in upcoming election to become first to use electronic balloting

(McKinney, TX) - Collin County residents will have a new experience when they vote in the upcoming September 13th election. The county has replaced the punch-card system with electronic voting.

“There are several reasons we’re excited about this,” explains Collin County Elections Administrator Sharon Rowe. “First, the system is easy to use. Second, visually impaired voters can vote unassisted for the first time in Collin County. Third, we’ll get the results faster. And, fourth, we’ll save money on the cost of paper supplies and frames.”

A federal law mandates that all punch-card voting systems be eliminated by the 2004 Presidential election. Recent provisions allow states to apply for an extension of the deadline to 2006.

Collin County purchased 700 Diebold Election Systems ACCU-VOTE touch-screen machines this year, and Rowe expects the county to purchase 300 more in October.

“The system has six easy steps. To start, a resident will insert a voter access card into a slot at the right side of a screen and that card stays in the machine while you vote. Next, the voter will select a language of choice. Third, the voter will make sure that the precinct number shown is correct. Fourth, the voter will touch the candidate or question box of their choice. Fifth, the voter will review the selections. And, finally, the voter will cast the ballot. The card will eject and will not be able to be used again by the voter,” says Rowe.

The only items on the September 13th ballot are for a state constitutional amendment election, an Allen ISD bond package and a local option election in Anna. Early voting begins on August 28th and continues until September 9th at the Collin County Sub-Courthouse in Plano. On Election Day, polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Early voting and election day locations are posted on the County's website, www.collincountytx.gov.

“Electronic voting will indeed be a change for Collin County voters, but a change for the better,” says Rowe. “Once they cast their first ballot, they’ll realize how much more advanced technology has become.”

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