Voting machines tested ahead of Tuesday’s election
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County EMA Director Sheldon Hutcherson feeds a marked sample ballot into a machine during the testing process. Photo by Lydia Waters
Sheriff Michael Howell gets a print-out from one of the voting machines to review as part of the testing process. Photo by Lydia Waters
By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
With the election now only four days away, Coosa County’s voting machines have been tested for each polling location to ensure accuracy before voters head to the polls Tuesday.
On Monday, Judge of Probate Richard Dean along with members of his staff, Sheriff Michael Howell, EMA Director Sheldon Hutcherson, and deputies met in the county’s E-911 building to conduct the mandatory testing process for the machines.
Before sending the machines to each polling location, Dean and the others spent time Monday testing each machine to ensure they were working properly. That included submitting and testing multiple types of ballots, including absentee and provisional, as well as incorrectly filled out ballots and others.
Those assisting with the testing booted up each machine and logged into it, made sure it was properly set up, fed marked ballots through it – or in the case of the ExpressVote Voting Assistance machines used the touchscreen, and reviewed the results to be sure each machine was working properly.
After being tested and confirmed to be in proper working order, each machine was then sealed to not be opened again until Tuesday’s general election, with 28 total machines being tested for the county’s 14 polling locations.
The machines are specifically programmed for a particular location, meaning ballots from one location will not be recognized at another location, and printouts from the ExpressVote machine cannot be taken and entered at another precinct.
It typically takes approximately five hours to complete the testing process for all of Coosa County’s machines before they are sealed and secured for delivery to the proper voting facility.
The machines are tested prior to each election, as mandated by state law, to help ensure the accuracy and integrity of the elections.
In addition to Monday’s testing of the election machines, Coosa County also held election training for polling officials on October 24, providing up-to-date training and information to all polling officials to be sure they are prepared for Election Day.
When visiting the polls, which will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. November 5, voters have the option of voting a straight-party ticket for the Democratic or Republican Party or voting for individual candidates. Voters will also have the opportunity to vote for a write-in candidate if they so choose.
Offices that will be on the Coosa County ballot include the president and vice president, U.S. representative for the 6th Congressional District, chief justice of the Supreme Court, associate justices of the Supreme Court, judges for the Court of Civil Appeals, judges for the Court of Criminal Appeals, president of the Public Service Commission, member for the State Board of Education District 3, Circuit Court judge for the 40th Judicial Circuit, circuit clerk, county judge of probate, Coosa County Board of Education superintendent, and county constables.
For the constable offices, many precincts have write-in options only, with no candidate appearing on the ballot. Of the 19 constable positions appearing on various county ballots, only six have candidates listed on the ballot for that precinct, and all of those six are running unopposed.
Also at the local level, incumbent elected officials who are running unopposed are Circuit Judge David Law, Judge of Probate Richard Dean and Superintendent of Education. Jamey Johnson, who won the Republican primary election for circuit clerk, is also running unopposed.
The general election ballot also includes one proposed statewide amendment, which is specifically related to the Franklin County School System and Board of Education.
For those voting by absentee ballot, Monday is the last day to hand deliver an absentee ballot, and absentee ballots that are returned by mail must be received no later than noon on Tuesday.
All polling locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. If a registered voter’s name is not on the voter list when they visit the polls, a poll worker will contact the county Board of Registrars to determine if the individual is eligible to vote at that polling place.
If the Board of Registrars is unable to verify the person’s voter registration then the voter may vote a provisional ballot.
The provisional ballot will be counted if the Board of Registrars is able to confirm that the person casting the ballot is a duly qualified elector of the polling place where the ballot was cast.
Registered voters are also required to show a valid photo ID at the polls in order to vote. However, a voter who does not have a valid form of photo ID on Election Day can still vote a regular ballot if their name appears on the official voters list and if they are positively identified by at least two election officials.
If the voter does not have a valid form of photo ID and cannot be positively identified by at least two election officials then they can vote a provisional ballot. The voter then has until 5 p.m. on the Friday following the election to submit a valid form of photo ID to the Board of Registrars.
If a proper photo ID is submitted by the deadline then the ballot will be counted as long as all other requirements were met.
Other reasons a voter may cast a provisional ballot is if their absentee ballot was never received or no photo ID was included with the absentee ballot application.
Prior to receiving a provisional ballot, a voter will need to sign an affidavit attesting to their eligibility to vote and complete a voter update form. Provisional ballots are placed in a separate secure ballot box from regular ballots.
Following the general election, the election night returns will begin that same evening, with returns normally starting to arrive about 7:30 p.m. at the courthouse and continuing for a few hours until all returns are received. The main upstairs courtroom of the courthouse will be open for candidates and citizens to watch the election results as they arrive from each polling location.
Provisional ballots are counted a week later, with the election results being certified following that. At 12 p.m. on November 12, the Coosa County Canvassing Board will meet to count all provisional ballots certified by the Board of Registrars, as well as count any UOCAVA, or Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, ballots postmarked by Election Day and received by noon on November 12.
For more information on the general election, including checking where to vote, visit www.alabamavotes.gov, or contact Judge of Probate Richard Dean at 256-377-4919 or the Coosa County Board of Registrars at 256-377-2418.
