New Voting Machines Promise Accuracy and Speed

By: Forrest Sanders Email
By: Forrest Sanders Email

It's called eScans, and it's a voting machine that allows voters to fill out a paper ballot that'll be counted with today's technology. It may be new to you, but it's a method soon to be used all over the country.

Secretary of State Trey Grayson says he expects half the voters in America this November to cast their votes using the eScans method. He says somewhere between 30 and 40 Kentucky counties will be voting in this hopefully quick and trustworthy way.

It's the new sound of a vote being cast, and Secretary Grayson says it's an improvement over electronic machines.

"People found them less friendly, less easy to use than previous systems," explains Secretary Grayson. "Hey, this looks more like a computer and can't computers be tampered and hacked? If that's the case, how do I know my vote counts?"

That's why Secretary Grayson says nothing's more trustworthy than paper and pen. The new system allows voters to mark their vote and place it into a new voting machine called eScans.

"It provides a paper trail to have the security, but other than that, it all has the great technology," Secretary Grayson says.

But what do actual voters think? We took to the streets only to find that they were split as to whether the new machine has their trust or not.

"Not," says Felicia Martinez. "Only simply because it's almost exactly the same. I mean, regardless of whether you're clicking on the computer or writing it with a pen, it's still being run through a computer system."

"I think it will be helpful for people who have not grown up with computerized technology," Aimee Games says. "Just more familiar to them. It'll feel more comfortable to check the box."

"People will be able to physically see what they're voting for and not hit a wrong button," Bryant Lipp adds.

That's exactly the effect Secretary Grayson hopes that eScans has.

"It's the best of all worlds with ease of use, trust, and ease of administration," he concludes.

In case you were wondering, the electronic voting machines will still be available to use in addition to the eScans machines. is happy to provide a forum for commenting and discussion. Please respect and abide by the house rules:


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