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202 <br /> <br />THURSDAY, JULY 25, 1996 <br /> <br />Ercell Cowan, City Registrar, read comments from other localities which <br />have used equipment similar to that being proposed by the Electoral <br />Board. All comments were favorable. <br /> <br />There then began a lengthy session of questions from members of Council <br /> and the public which were responded to by the Registrar and Electoral <br /> Board. In response to a question from Council Member Haskell, Ms. <br /> Adams said the proposed mark sense method is among several voting <br /> methodologies which have been approved by the State Board of Elections. <br /> In response to a question from Council Member Dallas, Ms. Cowan said <br /> that Henry County did not appropriate funds to purchase new voting <br /> equipment for FY 96-97. In response to a question from Council Member <br /> Teague, City Attorney David Worthy stated the mark sense method was <br /> first approved in January, 1995, therefore, no Virginia localities have <br /> utilized it in a presidential election. In response to a question from <br /> Council Member Teague, Mr. Ogden said some older voters had expressed <br /> reticence in using the new equipment. Ms. Cowan noted that currently <br /> the City has one voting machine for every 750 voters; with the new <br /> system there will be one machine for every 450 voters, thereby reducing <br /> lines at the polls. <br /> <br />Ms. Adams stated it was the Electoral Board's opinion that State law <br />vested in the Board the authority for running elections and therefore <br />the authority in selecting voting methodology from that which has been <br />approved by the State. Ms. Adams noted, however, that the Board did <br />not wish to go against the wishes of Council in this matter. <br /> <br />Council Member Dallas stated the issue was not one of voting <br />technology, it was an issue of voter participation. Council Member <br /> <br /> <br />