Two types of voting machines will be available to both walk-in absentee voters and those who vote on election day again this year.
The e-slate machine, which has a large dial the voters turn to select the candidates they wish to vote for, has been used the past two years and will be available again this year.
But, the second option is new this year, Sebastian said, as the county uses its new e-scan paper-ballot voting machines for the first time.
“We no longer have the large walk-in voting booths we’ve had for years,” Sebastian said. “With the new e-scan machines, voters will be given a paper ballot, They can stand or sit in a booth and mark the ballot, then put it in the e-scan machine. The machine will then scan it and store it inside the machine.”
The e-scan machines have been used in most Kentucky counties the past couple of elections with very good results and have made vote tabulation much smoother and quicker, Sebastian said.
“Everybody who has used the e-scan machines loves them,” said Sebastian. “They will also make the election night vote tally system faster because you don’t have to merge the different machine totals together.”
A demonstration e-scan machine is available in the County Clerk’s Office election division, located in the front, right-hand corner of the courthouse, for anyone wanting to check out the machine before election day. Sample ballots are also available.
This year’s primary election is a light one, with only candidates for governor and lieutenant governor, secretary of state, commissioner of agriculture and auditor of public accounts on the ballot.
On the Republican side, voters have three choices for governor and lieutenant governor: David L. Williams and Richie Farmer, Barbara “Bobbie” Holsclaw and Bill Vermillion Jr., or Phil Moffett and Mike Harmon.
In the secretary of state race, Republicans Hilda Legg and Bill Johnson square off, while Elaine N. Walker and Alison Lundergan Grimes vie for the Democratic vote.
Two Republican candidates for commissioner of agriculture are on the ballot, Rob Rothenburger and James R. Comer, while five Democrats, Robert “Bob” Farmer, Stewart Gritton, John Faris Lackey, David Williams and B.D. Wilson are on the slate.
Republicans Addia Kathryn Wuchner and John T. Kemper III are running for auditor of public accounts.
Contact Bob Flynn at bflynn@winchestersun.com.
