CLEARFIELD – In the May primary election, voters in Clearfield County had a choice — paper ballots or the new I-Votronic system.
For the Nov. 7th general election, voters will have to use the new electronic system.
Have no fear, though, public demonstrations have been planned.
Janesville – Mountz Community Park – Senior Citizens Day – Thursday, Sept. 28 – 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Sandy Township – Township Building – Tuesday, Oct. 3 – 6-8 p.m.
Lawrence Township – Hyde Fire Hall – Thursday, Oct. 5 – 6-8 p.m.
Curwensville – Curwensville Library – Monday, Oct. 9 – 6-8 p.m.
Coalport – Fire Hall – Thursday, Oct. 12 – 6-8 p.m.
Houtzdale – Fire Hall – Tuesday, Oct. 17 – 6-8 p.m.
Kylertown – District Justice Rudella’s Office – Thursday, Oct. 19 – 6-8 p.m.
DuBois – City Hall – Tuesday, Oct. 24 – 6-8 p.m.
Clearfield – Courthouse Annex Lobby – Thursday, Oct. 26 – 6-8 p.m.
All voters and residents of Clearfield County are invited to come to the demonstrations, familiarize themselves with the equipment and ask any pertinent questions before actually voting on Election Day.
Most voters will recognize that once they try the equipment, the touch screen voting process is very similar to the optical scan paper ballots in use in Clearfield County since 1985. The only difference is, instead of using a pencil to blacken an oval, the voter will now use their index finger to place a check-mark next to the person they are voting for.
The I-Votronic voting equipment allows for write-in votes and also accommodates all provisions of the federal American’s With Disabilities Act.
Clearfield County, along with all counties in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, was required by the federal government to have Help America Vote Act-compliant voting equipment in place for the 2006 elections.
The change from voting on paper ballots to HAVA-compliant voting equipment is not a change that originated at the county level, but was a mandated change dictated by the federal government. In 2005, Clearfield County was notified by the Pennsylvania Department of State that if the county was not HAVA-compliant for the 2006 elections, the county would face legal action from the federal government and could lose access to all federal funding for public projects and programs in Clearfield County.
To date, all 67 counties in Pennsylvania are reported to be HAVA-compliant for the Nov. 7 election.