Johnson County recently took delivery of 456 iVotronic machines, manufactured by Election Systems & Software of Omaha, Neb. The equipment arrived in two semi trucks, and county government employees spent a recent afternoon unloading the boxes into the courthouse annex north building in downtown Franklin.
When set up, the voting booth consists of a stand on metal legs with screens on three sides, like the old punchcards. But instead of a ballot book and stylus, the iVotronic features a 15-inch electronic display. Ballot choices appear on screen, and voters touch their choice to indicate their vote.
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Election Systems & Software had been Johnson County’s punchcard-ballot vendor for 30 years, and when the county looked to upgrade, it stayed with the same vendor. Purchasing the iVotronic machines from Election Systems & Software cost Johnson County $2.42 million, payable in seven yearly installments of $390,015, with interest. The county could get some reimbursement from the state for costs of installing new voting equipment.
Jones-Matthews believes voters will warm up to the new touchscreen machines.
“I think they will find it really easy,” she said.
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http://www.thejournalnet.com/Main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=113&ArticleID=38220I recall posting another article a couple weeks back, but have lost the link detailing when the press would be allowed to preview the machines to ask questions. I'd really like to find the questions Bev suggested for the media, and email the reporter BRYAN CORBIN " kboggs@thejournalnet.com " of this article if he would mind getting answers to them. There was also to be a demonstration open to the public after the media demo.
on edit: changed heading