Marion Co. tests voting machines - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Marion Co. tests voting machines

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Marion County - With the Indiana primary just two weeks away, the Marion County Election Board ran the final tests on its voting machines Tuesday. The so-called "public test" is required by state law.

"We're testing every ballot style to make sure every name can be read on the machine and we're making sure the results are collated properly," said Marion County Clerk Beth White.

It's a routine test for a very non-routine election. Given the hotly contested presidential primary as well as the race for the 7th Congressional district, a record number of Marion County voters are expected at the polls May 6th.

The primary is also expected to draw a lot of national media attention.

"It's exciting, but it does mean we're going to have to be on top of our game," said Patrick Dietrick, Republican member of the Marion County Election Board.
 
Dietrick said that means ensuring all polling places are open on time and fully staffed on election day.

White said what makes this primary different is the complexity of the ballots. There are 3,700 ballot styles in Marion County. There are ballots for 17-year-old Democrats and Republicans, who are eligible to vote in the presidential primary as long as they turn 18 by the November election. There are also school board-only ballots and split precincts.

White said all the variables make it considerably more challenging for poll workers.

"Every voter needs to be treated specially and differently depending on where they live," she said.

White, in the hot seat for not having enough poll workers last May, said this time she has nearly 200 more than needed.

"I've experienced a lot of scrutiny in my job so far and I will be ready," she said.

Dietrick added, "I'm optimistic, we have nowhere to go but up from last May."

The ballot testing, which took about two hours, went off without a hitch.  White said the focus now turns to training poll workers. That training will continue through next week. 

Marion County's polling locator and new precinct maps.

Postcards with your locations will not be mailed to Marion County voters as they were for the special election.

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