Fair-goers had the opportunity to "vote" using one of the voting systems the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Office is previewing – the optical scanner. There were 463 ballots cast. Horses, with 46% of the vote, won the favorite fair animal; roller coaster, with 38% of the vote, won the favorite ride; and elephant ears, with 24% of the vote, won the favorite fair food.

Other questions on the ballot included: Are you registered to vote? Do you know where your polling place is? Do you like the voting equipment and is the equipment easier to use than the punchcard system? Seventy-nine percent of those "voting" were registered and 86% knew the location of their polling place. Seventy-three percent thought the new equipment was easier to use and 87% indicated they liked the equipment.

For those who didn’t make it to the fair, the optical scan voting equipment will be on display at the Supervisor’s offices at 101 South Washington Boulevard, Sarasota and 4000 Tamiami Trail South in Venice.

In the "Chad Counting" contest, two persons guessed the exact number of chads in the box. Both Susie Shyne and David Guinart, a sixth-grader, zeroed in on the 120,000 certified count. David and his family visited Kathy Dent, Supervisor of Elections, in her office on Friday to pick up his prize - a "Vote" clock. A special souvenir envelope of chad was also presented to David for his enthusiasm regarding the election process and his avid following of the 2000 election. John Lagasse, Jr. won with the closest "undervote" and Andrea King will also be awarded a prize for her close "overvote." There will be no recounts.

This page last updated Friday, August 02, 2002