Try out new voting machine during demonstration period

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  • White County Chief Voter Registrar Lisa Manning explains the touch screen interface of new voting machines that will be used in 2020 elections. Georgia recently switched to a system that will produce a paper copy of voter choices in conjunction with the digital vote count. (Photo/Stephanie Hill)
    White County Chief Voter Registrar Lisa Manning explains the touch screen interface of new voting machines that will be used in 2020 elections. Georgia recently switched to a system that will produce a paper copy of voter choices in conjunction with the digital vote count. (Photo/Stephanie Hill)
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Residents can soon get a hands-on introduction to Georgia’s new voting machines.

White County’s election superintendent and voter registrar invite the public to view a demonstration of the new voting machines, beginning this Monday, Nov. 4, and continuing through Friday, Nov. 15. A machine will be set up at the voter registrar’s office (where early voting is located) at 1241 Helen Highway in Cleveland. Demonstration hours will be from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. This office is closed for lunch.

Georgia has previously used an electronic touch-screen voting system that did not produce a paper ballot showing a voter’s selection. In July, the state awarded a contract for new voting machines, which have a touch-screen interface. In summary, the selections are then printed on a paper ballot for a voter to review for accuracy. Once verified, the document is then placed through a scanner that reads votes and officially casts the ballot.

Officials say this demonstration period is an effort to help voters get familiar with the new machines before they are implemented in 2020 elections.

Call 706-865-7812 for more information.

A breakdown of the new voting process and what the transition in voting equipment means for the county will be featured in next week’s issue of the White County News.