Elections board told voting machines are tested and ready to go
WAYNESBURG – All voting machines are tested and ready for Tuesday’s general election, Greene County elections director Tina Kiger told the board of elections Wednesday.
For this election, part of the normal testing procedures for the county’s 113 voting machines was overseen by a representative of Electronic Software and Systems, the voting machines’ vendor.
ES&S was brought in to address concerns about the accuracy of the nine-year-old voting machines after several minor problems were reported in two precincts in the May primary.
Charles Mitchell of ES&S oversaw part of the testing referred to as “clear and testing,” Kiger said. “The clear and testing went well,” she said. All machines passed the tests.
The testing involved checking to ensure each machine is “cleared” and starts with no recorded votes. It also entails testing screen calibrations to make sure when a voter uses the touch screen to choose a candidate, the correct candidate is selected.
The company provided the board with no written report on the tests. Greene County President Judge Farley Toothman, a member of the elections board, said he believed ES&S should have done so, given it was being paid $12,000 to assist in the coming election.
Kiger was asked to have ES&S provide a document indicating each of the machines was properly tested.
Asked about the $12,000 fee after the meeting, Kiger said ES&S is actually being paid about $7,275 for providing technical assistance for the two days of testing and for three days for the election, which include Election Day and days before and after the election.
The second test was a logic and accuracy test conducted by staff and attended by Greg Ayersman, representing the county Democratic Committee, and Greg Hopkins, chairman of the county Republican Committee.
The test involves tabulating votes on two randomly selected machines for two different ballots. Votes were cast on the machines from paper ballots and flash cards from the machines were used to generate reports.
In each instance, the tabulated votes matched the votes cast on the machines from the paper ballots.
In other business, Kiger reported the elections office is still looking for people to work the polls Election Day.
The office needs a Republican minority inspector for the Jefferson 2 precinct, which votes at First Baptist Church in Pitt Gas; and a clerk, representing any party, at Wayne Township West precinct, which votes at the Wayne Township fire hall.
The office also is seeking substitute poll workers of any party who can work where needed on election day. Kiger noted judges of election are paid $125 and clerks and minority inspectors $125.
Anyone interested in working Election Day can call the elections office at 724-852-5230.
Kiger also reported Friday is the final day for absentee ballots to be received by the elections office.
The board recessed the meeting and will reconvene at the request of board chairman Frances Pratt to address any issues arising during the election or, once the election canvass is completed, to complete the final signing of the election results. Kiger said the reconvened meeting will be advertised.