Several changes in store for 2006 elections

The Flathead County Election Department is preparing for several major changes over the next year, including the introduction of an electronic vote-counting device that should provide rapid election results.

Clerk and Recorder Paula Robinson said she expects the first shipment of M100 tabulators to arrive by midsummer. Beginning with the 2006 primary election, one of the devices will be located at each of the county's 43 polling stations.

The tabulators will scan paper ballots and alert voters to any discrepancies such as under-voted or over-voted races, she said.

Faulty ballots will be returned to voters, who can either revise them or instruct the machine to accept them as is. The ballots will then be stored in secure containers, without ever being handled by anyone other than the voters themselves.

The M100 also automatically keeps track of the election results for multiple races. After the polling closes, it prints out the totals, allowing election judges to immediately transmit the results to the election office.

"Missoula was a test site for the devices during last year's election," Robinson said. "I think they were done counting at about 10 p.m.," compared to about 3:30 p.m. the next day for Flathead County.

The total cost of the M100s is about $213,000, she said. A federal grant will cover three-quarters of that amount; the county is contributing $53,000.

It's possible the M100s will be used during city elections this fall. However, Robinson said the Election Department's main focus will be to test all the machines and train all the election judges in time for the 2006 primary election.

Monica Eisenzimer will be responsible for much of that work. She was recently named the county election supervisor, replacing Dianne Murer, who retired earlier this year.

In addition to the tabulator, several other changes are scheduled for this year and next, including:

. Computerized voter registration records - Flathead County will be one of the first jurisdictions in Montana to deploy a statewide database for voter registration records.

That project is scheduled for this summer, Robinson said. Eventually, all county election departments will be linked to the database, which should make it easier to identify and remove voters who have moved to other counties, or to update records for people who move here.

"The database will have your signature on file, so we'll be able to compare signatures and verify [voter] petitions more easily," Eisenzimer said. "We'll also be able to link to our address database and automatically tell which precinct someone is in. We used to spend hours doing that."

Prior to implementing the system, all registration cards will have to be bar-coded and scanned into the database. The work is scheduled to be completed by the 2006 primary.

. Same-day registration - The Montana Legislature recently approved Senate Bill 302, which makes several changes in state voter registration statutes.

Most notably, the bill allows people to register to vote as late as the day of the election. Those who come in after the normal registration deadline will have to vote at the election office.

SB 302 has been sent to Gov. Brian Schweitzer for his signature.

. Direct recording electronic equipment - This is another device that could be deployed by the 2006 primary election. It allows people who are blind or vision-impaired, or who have some other disability that makes it difficult to mark a regular ballot, to vote in privacy.

The direct recording equipment and the M100 ballot scanner are both intended to meet the requirements of the federal Help America Vote Act.

. Robinson said the Election Department also is considering changes to its absentee voting procedures and evaluating the number and location of polling places to make sure they're still adequate.

Absentee voting might be switched from the county courthouse to the county fairgrounds, she said, because the fairgrounds is better able to handle large numbers of people and its handicap accessibility is better.

The hours for absentee voting also could be shifted or expanded to make it easier for working people to vote.

"Last year, we had more than 8,000 absentee ballots," Robinson said. "I bet we have at least 10,000 next time. I'd like to encourage as much absentee voting as possible to alleviate the amount of paperwork we need to handle on election night."

Reporter Bill Spence may be reached at 758-4459 or by e-mail at bspence@dailyinterlake.com