Augusta City Council to get look at vote count machines

AUGUSTA — City councilors will get a sneak preview Thursday of how the city’s new vote-counting machines will work.

City Clerk Barbara Wardwell is scheduled to introduce councilors to the city’s new DS 200 voting machines.

Wardwell said the new machines, into which voters will feed their paper ballots, have video touch screens.

The new machines will alert voters if they have not voted in any of the races on the ballot, or have made an error on the ballot such as selecting too many candidates in a race. The voter may then, if desired, take the ballot back and fill in any vacant spots.

Wardwell said the new machines also probably will make tabulating vote totals faster.

Wardwell said she also will discuss the ballot for the Nov. 5 elections, which will feature a four-candidate race for two open at-large council seats. The top two vote-getters of the four candidates will win the at-large positions.

Seeking the at-large seats are incumbent Councilor Cecil Munson, former councilor Mary Mayo-Wescott, former state legislator Dale McCormick and resident Tom Connors.

Councilors plan to meet at 7 p.m. Thursday in council chambers at Augusta City Center. Councilors are also scheduled to:

• hear a presentation from Deb Violette on the Free ME from Lung Cancer Walk Nov. 2;

• hear a presentation on Extra Mile Day, which is Nov. 1 and, according to a proclamation from proponents, is meant to encourage and celebrate “individuals and organizations within the community who go the extra mile in order to make a difference and lift up fellow members of their community”; and

• consider appointing residents to boards and committees.

Keith Edwards — 621-5647
[email protected]

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