All In Good Taste / April 2006
Power Up, and Vote
Secretary of State Betty Ireland
with a new voter machine. |
By Secretary of State Betty Ireland
This year the polling places will look a bit different. All 55 counties have upgraded their voting equipment as a result of the 2002 federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA). HAVA mandated that every state upgrade its voting equipment by 2006 as a result of the problems experienced in the 2000 Presidential Election. Part of HAVA’s requirement was to replace all punch-card and lever systems of voting as well as providing one handicap-accessible machine per precinct. West Virginia was one of only 20 states that met the 2006 deadline to replace voting systems, but having new machines does no good if the people do not use them.
Women are 51% of the population yet are greatly under-represented in both national and state government. West Virginia is among the ten states with the lowest percentages of women legislators with 21 women out of 134 total members-18 in the House of Delegates and 3 in the State Senate. Nationally, 8.8 million more women than men voted in the 2004 elections. These voting records are impressive, yet some 30% of eligible women are not registered to vote. Imagine the difference if all women were registered and voted!
Early voting for the May 9th Primary Election begins on April 19th, so please register and get out the vote for the upcoming Primary and again in the fall for the General Election. In West Virginia, of current registered voters who voted in the 2004 General Election, 54% of total votes cast were by women, and 45% of votes cast were by men-women’s votes matter!
Because at least one of the new electronic voting machines will be in each precinct in the state, the Secretary of State’s Office has been conducting a statewide campaign to make citizens aware of the new voting equipment. VIP (Voting is Powerful) representatives from this office are traveling the state conducting demonstrations for civic organizations, and in high traffic areas such as banks, libraries and senior citizen centers.
Therese Cox, Senior Outreach Coordinator for the Secretary of State’s Office, has visited all 55 county senior centers demonstrating the new machines. County clerks are doing their part as well teaching citizens how to use the new machines.
The response to this new voting method has been overwhelmingly positive. Senior citizens, who already use e-mail, eBay and surf the net, have embraced this new technology. Young people are excited because they’re using technology everywhere in their world. Businessmen and women, who utilize technology everyday, are well award of the capabilities for gathering information quickly and accurately from electronic equipment.
The new voting machines are indeed easy to use. Citizens are encouraged to give them a try before Election Day by visiting their county clerk’s office, looking for public demonstrations in their communities, or simply coming to the Secretary of State’s Office during normal business hours for a demonstration. Anyone who would like to arrange a demonstration in their area, please call the Secretary of State’s Office at (304) 558-6000.
Currently, there are three methods of voting, but these methods vary from county to county, so please contact the local clerk’s office or visit the website at www.wvsos.com to see what type of system will be used on Election Day in each area.
Early voting starts on April 19 for the May 9th Primary. Voting is powerful, ladies. Be sure to vote!
Contact the office of Secretary of State Betty Ireland by calling 866-SOS-VOTE or email wvsos@wvsos.com .
Copyright © 2007 A Woman's View. All rights reserved.
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