The Athens-Clarke County Elections Department is getting down to brass tacks with the logic and accuracy testing of its voting equipment in anticipation of the November 4 Municipal General and Special Election. According to a statement on the Athens-Clarke County's website, the shakedown starts next Monday at the unassuming Athens-Clarke County Facilities and Landscape Management Building. Prospective observers, be they news hounds, political junkies, or the concerned common folk, are all welcomed to witness the process each day from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. until testing wraps up.
The Georgia Secretary of State’s Office, kicks things off by sending over a secure database for the imminent showdown at the polls. Using this data, staff create memory cards for the voting system, a critical step before ballots can join hands with their paper counterparts. Every touch-screen unit gets a thorough once-over – races, candidates, and all – with every action recorded for posterity. It's not just about the visuals, though; accessibility features such as audio instructions and magnification assistance are also put through their paces.
Secure election database from the state’s office in hand, the elections staff embarks on a meticulous effort to verify that the voter access cards, the ballot displays on the screens, and the optical scan system for absentee ballots are all up to snuff. Each voting machine, after proving its accuracy, is then tucked away in a highly secure location, sealed up tight until it's called to duty on Election Day.
"All races, headers, race titles, candidates, and placement order of candidates are visually checked on the touch-screen units," notes the county's website. Responsible for more than a simple visual pat-down, the machinery is also calibrated and inspected to ensure a flawless performance come election day.
