Touch Screens A Hit With Local Voters

During a recent Voting Systems Open House hosted by Kathy Dent, Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections, local residents overwhelmingly preferred the touch screen voting system to the optical scan equipment. Over 400 residents participated in the demonstration, which produced a true cross section of county voters. "We had people attending from North Port, Venice, Longboat Key, and Sarasota. There were pollworkers, elected officials, municipal clerks, representatives of various disabilities, and county employees - a random sample of Sarasota's population," indicated Kathy Dent, after reviewing the guest list.

Five different companies displayed their wares - both optical scan and touch screens. Although there was some disagreement as to the favorite vendor, voters overwhelmingly preferred touch screens over optical scan 94% to 6%. They found touch screens extremely user friendly - easy to use, and impossible to overvote. All age groups seemed to react the same in their enthusiasm.

Supervisors throughout the state who need to replace their old voting systems are finding similar results. In a recent Pinellas County survey, 455 voters selected touch screen while 148 preferred the optical scan. Both Hillsborough and Lee counties' surveys turned out in favor of the touch screens. 

Although no touch screen is yet certified in the State of Florida, Paul Craft, certification specialist for the Division of Elections, told supervisors at their state conference that he expects that several companies that have applied for certification will be approved by summer's end.

This page last updated Friday, August 02, 2002