By Aleasha Sandley, Herald Bulletin Staff Writer
ANDERSON — A lot of things must go off without a hitch to make Election Day run smoothly.
With less than three weeks before the big day Nov. 4, Madison County officials and volunteer poll workers are making sure the county’s more than 400 voting machines all are working properly and technicians are trained on how to handle any problems that might arise.
The county publicly tested three of its voting machines on Thursday, giving technicians a chance to practice troubleshooting and prepare for their role on Election Day.
“Everything is checked, double checked and checked a third time to make sure it’s right,” Madison County Clerk Ludy Watkins said.
Three technicians — who will travel around to the polls on Election Day making sure the machines are working properly — publicly tested the machines in the Madison County Government Center, inputting test ballots for three randomly chosen precincts. The other voting machines also were being tested this week by a team of six people: three Republicans and three Democrats.
Both straight and split tickets were tested, making sure the machines could handle any type of vote given to them.
“A lot of people don’t understand that we go through all this to make sure it’s right and that it does come up the way that it’s supposed to,” said Martha Carmichael, Democratic member and president of the county’s election board.
The county will offer three classes a day next week at the Wigwam to train the 500 poll workers, which include one inspector, two judges and two clerks at each polling location. Two classes will be held in Elwood on Oct. 29 to reach poll workers in the northern part of the county.
A public demonstration of the voting machines will be 9-10:30 a.m. Tuesday and 5-6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Wigwam for those who want to be more familiar with the machines before they cast their ballot.
For Vera Simon, who has been a poll technician for four years, Election Day is all about preparation.
“If you’re going to be a technician, you’ve got to know how things operate,” she said. “The more you do it, the more comfortable you are with it.”
-----------
Election Day preparation
— Poll worker training: 9:30 a.m., 1:30 and 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday at the Wigwam; 2 and 6 p.m. Oct. 29 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Elwood; makeup class 6 p.m. Oct. 30 at the Madison County Government Center
— Public demonstration of voting machines: 9-10:30 a.m. Tuesday and 5-6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Wigwam.
