Two counties receive new voting machines

Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties received the first batch of new voting machines Tuesday — big, black, boxy devices that feature computer monitors and flashing lights.

The new "ballot-marking devices" make the push-lever variety now in service look like relics. And their arrival signals a sea change in how the north country will vote, starting with the September primary.

Sean M. Hennessey, Jefferson County Democratic elections commissioner, tried a Sequoia machine during a testing phase.

"It actually works fairly well, and it's a time saver," he said.

Jefferson County, which received seven machines Tuesday, is expecting the entire order of 65 to be delivered by July 31. St. Lawrence County, which also received seven machines Tuesday, ordered 63 total.

Lewis County is due to receive 24, with the first batch expected Friday.

The three counties won't receive enough new stock this year to phase out the lever machines, so the ballot-marking devices will be offered initially to those with disabilities. It's expected that everyone will cast a vote through a Sequoia system by the 2009 elections, bringing the counties into compliance with the federal Help America Vote Act.

Disabled patrons use a controller with oversized buttons to cast their vote, which will be recorded on a paper ballot by the new machine.

Mr. Hennessey said a "privacy sleeve" allows disabled patrons to remove their paper slip without revealing its contents before they deposit it in the other side of the machine. That's where the vote is secured.

The commissioner said the slip allows the user to review their vote, but added the machine "has no memory of how a specific person voted."

In 2009, nondisabled patrons will record their votes on paper ballots and then deposit their ballots into the machine.

The machines have their own battery backup in case of power failure.

Mr. Hennessey and his Republican counterpart, Jerry O. Eaton, plan to use one machine for training and public outreach programs to help get residents accustomed to the new process.

The Democratic commissioner said Sequoia has promised to provide any updates or make any fixes the state requires in the future without charge to the counties.

The elections board is using secure space on the first floor of the county Office Building to store machines. The entire batch is expected to be stored within that building.

St. Lawrence County stored its first seven machines in the courthouse, although there is not room for all 63 there. The county is searching for space.

Times staff writer Corey Fram contributed to this report.