Las Vegas NowNew Voting Method in Nevada

New Voting Method in Nevada

(Dec. 12) -- Major changes are on the way for how people will vote in Nevada in the upcoming elections. Nevada is the first state that will require voters to see a paper printout of their selection before they cast their ballot.

Nevada Secretary of State Dean Heller says he's trying to avoid the political disaster of the Florida recount in the 2000 Presidential Election. "I feel very important the public confidence has to be high in order to entice them to go to the polls," said Secretary of State Dean Heller.

Heller has mandated that all Nevada counties begin using what's called direct recording electronic voting machines or DRE's by Sequoia Voting Systems. The machine allows voters to see a paper printout of their ballot selections before they leave the voting booth.

"For people who don't trust government who are uncomfortable what's going on inside the machine, this should make them comfortable as to what they picked. There is a record accurately recorded," said Larry Lomax, Clark County Registrar of Voters.

Clark county has used Sequoia machines for ten years however 16 other counties in Nevada still use punch card and scan machines. Heller says those counties will switch over by the March 2004 election.

More than 700 of Clark County's newer voting machines will also be retrofitted for the paper printout. But 2100 older machines won't be upgraded until 2006.

"We need to make sure there is some form of accountability during these elections," said State Democratic Party Chair Adraina Martinez, adding that these machines are a step in the right direction but they all need to be retrofitted by next March.

"This is a non-partisan issue. We want to make sure your vote counts." But Heller is confident your vote is safe. He says, "The better the technology gets the better the better the machines get the security aspect of it."