If more election advocates would take the time to ‘walk the walk’ and actually take the time to attend Moderator certification classes, than they might better appreciate the dedication and fairness instilled in them.

The problem has always been the lack of willing workers, their advancing age, and the difficulty of training them to accept the new procedures defined by the optical scan process. Registrars across the state have spent many hours, with much success, develloping training programs for workers, while working with their local High Schools in getting students involved as election workers. The ever changing regulations by the Secretary of State, written as problems or need has been raised and often distributed at the last moment has been a constant challenge, but should lessen as the system is fine tuned.

As you properly point out it is a long day filled with repetition. Workers are pretty worn out by 8:00 pm. (I shuddered at the thought of the extended hours suggested by some) Candidates, the press, and the public have little appreciation of the post election work required, which often keeps officials working long into the night. Your next effort should be directed to working with (Or as) the Moderator in filling out the post election forms required. This has become a source of confusion and frustration for most Registrars and Moderators. The forms have multiplied and become more confusing in their requirements.

Absentee ballot counting is tedious and time consuming, especially so in a Presidential election with it’s inherrent high volume and in the variety of ballots to be counted and recorded seperately. The delays you spoke of are a result of types of ballots appearing only in Presidential elections; Presidential Ballots, Overseas Ballots, Blank Ballots, Military Ballots, and certain special blank ballots identified in the last week of the election for faxed balloting that I still don’t uhderstand. Complicate that with the fact that ballots are delivered several times a day, some not arriving until after the polls close (Presidential), and that several of the ballot types must be counted by hand. Add to this, that this was the first time tabulators have been added to the Absentee counting mix for most towns. (Vernon has used Tabulators for over five years, so has a much higher comfort level)

The ‘comfort level’ issue I just alluded to is a major factor. rarely in our state history has our election system been tested to this volume and level. Over 50% of the voters had never experienced the optiscan system. Our central voter registry system and local maintenance assured reduced polling place eligeabillity problems and timely review of the local files. Moderators, Registrars , voters and Town Clerks all approached election day with trepidation, and for the most part (I have not heard of any major problems) brought it off with flying colors.

Overall, Connecticut should be proud of where our state stands with the new voting system. We chose right the first time, took the time to0 properly introduce it, and interfaced it with a voter registry system that works. All we need to do is look to those states that chose poorly, still can’t figure out whose registered, and still face major replacement issues.