Faulty voting machine replaced to give voters peace of mind

By Kathleen Goddeyne - 

After one voter, Tom Doran of Mack, had a problem using a voting machine at the Goodwill voting location, 630 24 1/2 Road in Grand Junction, officials pulled the machine off of the line.

According to Sheila Reiner, Mesa County Clerk and Recorder, the machines verify citizens’ votes in three different ways.

As voters touch the screen to select a candidate, the screen lights up behind their fingers to emphasize which button is being selected. A paper trail is printed out for voters to view and verify their choices. And finally, before the votes are submitted, the machine forces voters to go through a review summary screen.

“When he (Doran) was using the machine he said it wasn’t lighting up where his finger touched,” Reiner said. “Like any touch screen, sometimes the machine needs to be calibrated.”

Doran chose to use a write in ballot after the election judge confirmed the machine error, but three votes went through before the machine was pulled. Those votes will still count and be collected.

A technician was called to the location to calibrate the machine that appeared to be functioning fine.

“Since we have plenty of machines to choose from and for safety’s sake, we took that machine out of service. We’re not going to take a chance like that moving forward,” said Reiner.