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A group of state and county employees and volunteers tested Graham County's electronic voting machines on Wednesday. Once all test ballots are complete, the ballots will be compared to their pre-determined results.
Kori Lorick, Arizona state elections director, hands long-time resident John Rhodes an overview of the election logic and accuracy testing on Wednesday.
A group of state and county employees and volunteers tested Graham County's electronic voting machines on Wednesday. Once all test ballots are complete, the ballots will be compared to their pre-determined results.
Their flight from Bisbee was 15 minutes late, but Kori Lorick, state elections director, and her small entourage got right down to business testing voting machines for Graham County voters.
“We’re going to be testing a pre-marked script,” she explained to a growing crowd gathering around table in an upstairs conference room at the General Services Building in Safford. Chairs were placed outside the room for an overflow of folks who wanted to observe the annual Logic and Accuracy test in advance of the Aug. 2 primary election.
Each tester would input the results of a faux ballot for every party and every federal and state race, ensuring the results matched up. Since the results of each test ballot were already known, the test is critical to check for the accuracy of the voting machines and to gauge how effective recorded prompts were.
The crew would be staying well after their delayed 2 p.m. start. Wendy John, Graham County recorder, said 9,500 ballots would be fed through the machines before the day’s end. When she showed up, she was still wearing her rubber finger tip, fresh in from stuffing and mailing ballots.
State Elections Services Manager Christine Dyster rotated between voting machines, piles of ballots on the tables, and conferring with Lorick and their team. County Elections Director Hannah Duderstadt stood ready to assist. Patty Cervantes of the Graham County Democrats, and Kip GOP Chairman for Graham County, were on hand to observe and pitch in where necessary.
Former GOP Chair John Rhodes sat outside the room, looking through the glass wall as the testing commenced. He’s been involved in testing or observing for at least 15 years. A 72-year resident of Safford, he said voting was important because it means “getting the right people in there.”
Kori Lorick, Arizona state elections director, hands long-time resident John Rhodes an overview of the election logic and accuracy testing on Wednesday.
Graham County has six vote centers, and any registered voter can vote at any of the centers. Registered voters residing in Bylas and San Carlos will vote at their normal polling places but may vote at any Graham County voting center. Registered voters in Klondye and Bonita will vote at the Bonita School but may vote at any Graham County voting center.
• Solomon School Gym, 2285 S. Stevens Ave., Solomon
• AG Building Fairgrounds, 3805 S. U.S. Highway 191, Safford
• St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 311 Central Ave., Safford
• Eastern Arizona College, Fine Arts Auditorium, 663 N. Stadium Ave., Thatcher
• Pima School, Digger O’Dell Building, 192 E. 200 S., Pima
• Fort Thomas School Gym, 15502 Highway 70, Fort Thomas
• Bylas Precinct No.11, Robert Olivar Sr. Learning Center, 297 E. Highway 70, Bylas
• Klondyke Precinct No.12 and Bonita Precinct No.13, Bonita School, 18008 S. Fort Grant Road, Bonita
• Peridot Precinct No.16, San Carlos Housing Authority, Highway 70, Moonbase Road, Peridot
Polls/vote centers are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day.
We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on!
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