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As voters line up to cast ballots before Tuesday, election officials say they're ready for the big day, which may be slowed by a lengthy ballot.
By LISA GREENE, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published November 4, 2002
Palm Harbor resident Maria Burns tried out Pinellas County's new touch screen voting machines for the first time Friday and left with proof of just how simple they are to use.
"That's how easy it was -- a 2-year-old could do it," she said Friday.
Burns knows this because one of her 2-year-olds, Noah, helped her vote.
They were among more than 8,000 county residents who already have taken advantage of the state's new early voting rules.
For Burns, the new rule meant that her husband, Bob Burns, could be there to hold Noah's twin, Madison, while he voted. If the couple had waited until Tuesday, Maria would have had to cast her ballot while caring for two wriggly toddlers alone.
Other early voters at the Pinellas County Courthouse said Friday that they would be out of town Tuesday, that it fit their schedule better or that they just wanted to avoid the lines.
Elections supervisor Deborah Clark estimates that by Tuesday, more than 10,000 people already will have cast their ballots at an elections office. That's not counting more than 35,000 paper absentee ballots that voters already have mailed.
"Isn't it wonderful?" she said Friday. "Voters really approve of being able to vote when they want to vote."
Clark and other elections officials are encouraging people to vote early to shorten the lines on Tuesday. Voters will face a long ballot, with at least 15 races and 17 ballot questions. In some districts, they'll have more.
Despite an education campaign that reached more than 75,000 people and September's primary election, most voters probably will be using the new machines for the first time.
But Clark said that didn't worry her.
"I think it will be easier to vote a ballot this size using the touch screen," she said. On the old punchcard ballots, "if they make a mistake, they couldn't correct it easily."
County Commissioner Bob Stewart, a member of the county's election canvassing board, expects long lines -- but not because of the new machines.
"I do expect there'll be longer lines than usual, simply because of the ballot's complexity," Stewart said. "I think it wouldn't be any faster if it were a punch card."
At the courthouse Friday, several voters agreed.
"It's a lot bigger and easier to read" than a punch card ballot, said Safety Harbor resident Kyle Ulbrich.
"They're great," said Clearwater Beach resident Joanna Morrow. "They're very easy to use."
Unlike the September primary fiasco in South Florida, Pinellas' first countywide test of the machines went smoothly. Clark said she was following the same process this time. Most of the same poll workers will be on duty, so they'll be a little more familiar with the machines.
Voters will be able to try out a demonstration machine in each precinct. They also will be able to read over the constitutional amendments while they're in line and check their choices on a card they can use while casting the ballot.
As in September, poll workers with extra training will roam a few precincts apiece, ready to respond to any problems. One change: In September, about 125 county employees volunteered to help on election day. This time, 50 more signed up to help.
If you want to vote early, you can do it today from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at any of three county elections offices: the Pinellas County Courthouse, 315 Court St., Room 117, Clearwater; the Election Service Center, 14255 49th St. N, Suite 202, Clearwater; and the County Building, 501 First Ave. N (Fifth Street N entrance), St. Petersburg.