June 20, 2006
Survey 1: I think as far as transportability this machine is the way to go- and the same for storage, I liked the other machines but this one blew me away for several reasons!
Survey 2: Made in Germany, $8500
Survey 3: Liberty machines have a lot of peripheral equipment that seems to be problematic to running a smooth election. Storage space is a big advantage but a security risk as well. You have to send your ballot out to a printer and wait to see if it is right, a late change in the ballot will put your back to the old system.
Survey 4: Easy machine to operate, system most like old paper ballot, easy to change vote ESP write in, easy to move from place to place appears to be the easiest of the machine of use.
Survey 5: Would simplify the work of election inspectors and appears to be well thought out.
Survey 6: I rate this as a top-rated machine! I prefer this machine over the two machines that I tried last week!
Survey 7: It was not clear at all how to do this. I had to do trial and error when the company was free she was helpful but when I asked how the voter was suppose to know how she said, its in the voter training. Are we going to train every voter?
Survey 8: I’m pretty sure older voters may have some problems.
Survey 9: Moveable, only 60 pounds, allows under voting without telling election worker like scanner, audio seemed clear, needs additional spare table to adjust height, not as glitzy as Sequoia but very adequated, paper backup system excellent but could be improved to make easier to see (light it ect)
Survey 10: When we vote, ( I am an election inspector) I think the voters will have many questions about the new machine, just because its different, and we will have to explain it so, it will take longer, I anticipate a line waiting, the machine seem easy to use, once people get used to it.
Survey 11: Buttons too hard to push for frail SR’s
Survey 12: Pressing the circle is to hard for elderly arthritic hands.
Survey 13: I would like to see the initial and office record be on paper, review difficult to read, touch pad problematic, failure to record a vote on miss-read not correctable
Survey 14: I have tested no other machines, it would be better is the paper ballot showed my vote balled not just one race at a time, how do we know paper ballot really there?
Survey 15: Buttons not large enough, buttons are too hard to push, cannot see whole list of ballot cast
Survey 16: I didn’t like the fact that I could only see one selection at a time on the paper ballot; I would rather do all the electronics and then look and see all the same on paper.
Survey 17: I like this machine best of 3 witnessed BUT it would help if the BOE would print a greatly enlarged copy of proposition for posting outside booth in the polling place to be read before entering voting booth. Last year we Xeroxed the props ahead enlarging the typeface
Survey 18: I liked the 1-5 rating system used on Sequoia machines better then this, Globe on the board, hard to read the verification, I was sitting because its hard to start and concentrate I’d like to be able to see my whole ballot at once and not one at a time.
Survey 19: Would want to see entire printout, printout is not the same as ballot glad to see no barcode. Still not sure software is really verifiable through the whole of election day. In general I don’t feel comfortable with reliability of DRE. Still prefer paper ballot with scanner, the scanner can be tested at any time during the day. Is there any company making a scanner only? Are you going to kook at all the possible certified machines?
Survey 20: I preferred the machines with a checkmark. That makes highlighted the whole column. Although this machine never being down may be easily for some people. I still think the first machine is better. Please no paper ballot.
Survey 21: As an election inspector this is the least of the 3 prepared. No lining on the # times change mend.
Survey 22: Preferred machine demonstration last week
Survey 23: In my opinion I believe this machine will satisfy everyone, especially older people.
Survey 24: Overall this machine seems to be ok
Survey 25: Very concerned that Sequoia machines are not made in Venezuela. I read about Chavez election fraud with Sequoia.
Survey 26: This machine seems very easy to understand
Survey 27: I really like this machine! The ballot would be familiar to voters and I think less intimidating to inspectors and voters.
Survey 28: Keep working on it!
Survey 29: I prefer the Sequoia DRE. The liberty would be second choice. Definitely not the optical scanner!!! “I love Elizabeth she is so helpful!”
Survey 30: I liked the paper ballot best of the first two but don’t like the idea of using a paper ballot.
Survey 31: Paper printouts are a big plus. Security seems adequate. No matter what new system is used there will be some initial confusion, but this system seems as straight forward and simple as it gets.
Survey 32: Having some orientation to the machine would be helpful for virgin voters. I think this machine is about as intuitive as the old lever machines, but I also remember my frustration the first time I was confronted with one of those. As helpful poll worker made all the difference.
Survey 33: It will be difficult for the older adults. Easy to get confused. Many of us that work on election day, I feel will need a lot of instructions before election day.
Survey 34: I was astonished that I couldn’t check the full ballot when I finished. I had no idea that I had to check each vote on paper as I cast it! If the technician doesn’t tell you this (and she didn’t) you’d never realize until it was too late!
Survey 35: I think paper record is very good and important aspect of these machines. I’m not positive the electronic boxes that are partially preprogrammed by manufactures from when the boxes are purchased. The purpose of the preprogramming being to wait the results. This should be thought about carefully.
Survey 36: I am a strong advocate of paper ballots and trace ability. The optical scan choice seems better to me. Electronic data entry tallies are too easily manipulated.
Survey 37: We need a demo to assist voters. This will be the 1st year and training is crucial. We have many older voters who wont have a chance to go to the mall for demonstrations. If voters get discouraged the 1st year, they may not come back the next year.
Survey 38: Relies on through voter education, concerned that voter might not go through that process then when stuck my not remember how to go on.
Survey 39: concerns regarding public being comfortable with operation of the machine before entering line to sign in and vote.
Survey 40: I like that it’s a New York com. This doesn’t improve the system, we have now. Its just status to on go. That could be a benefit too. I didn’t think this was a handicap accessible as Sequoia or as good for seeing improved.
Survey 41: It should show your total vote, not just one at a time. I know the view screen has to below for wheelchair voter, but I found it too low to see clearly. As a voting experience I found it to complicated and an inspector I dread having to talk mostly the voters thru their process form outside the booth.
Survey 42: Blue lights not clearly visible, Voting process for visually handicapped clearly favors the party on the top row, alternate heights for vote/cancel might be confusing. Using arrow keys motion of cursor is not intuitive, this machine clearly tried to emulate a lever machine but fails to incorporate the actual wear experience. No way to verify that what I voted for is actually recorded.
Survey 43: I tried the earphones and I think that would still require and assistant in the booth with the voter.
Survey 44: I couldn’t attend the Tompkins County Sequoia demos because I was out of town, but I saw them demonstration in Watkins Glen. The Sequoia DRE broke, preventing me form voting on it. When a DRE beaks, your screwed, and they will break sometimes, votes will be last. When an optical scanner breaks its not a disaster people can continue to full out paper ballots and then can be counted later. As long as paper ballot backup us needed, why not use it proud? Specific comment, the paper ballot verification only chews one office at a time, its very easy to forget to check it, which is bad! (Liberty DRE still better then Sequoia DRE)