Clerk’s office testing voting machines

The Roosevelt County Clerk’s office began testing voting machines Friday in preparation for the Nov. 4 election.
County Clerk Janet Collins, Chief Deputy Clerk Linda Connelly and Senior Clerk Nath Baca tested the machines that will be used for absentee mail-in ballots, absentee in-person ballots and early voting.
Collins said she and her staff were running eight ballots — including one that was blank, one with too many votes, and one with errors — for each of 21 precincts through the machines. Each ballot was run through the machines two times “so that we make sure it’ll count every vote.”
“A lot of people worry about if their vote counts,” she said. “I don’t see how there can be any voter fraud with the ballot.”
The clerk’s office also will test the voting machines for each of the county’s 21 precincts. Collins said if one machine doesn’t work, there is a spare, which also would have to be tested.
Once the clerk’s office is done testing the machines, they will locked until voting begins, Collins said.
“On election day, the precinct judge will run zero-tape returns, so it’s obvious that there’s no votes in the machines when they start,” she said.
This year, voters will be asked to verify their identity. Precinct workers will ask voters their name, year of birth and address, which should match what’s on the books, Collins said.
Voters who registered by mail will be asked to show identification, she said.
Persons who wish to vote in the Nov. 4 general election must register by 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Early in-person voting begins Tuesday at the Roosevelt County Clerk’s office.
Absentee ballot applications may be obtained by calling 356-8562.