2006 News

August 16, 2006

Commissioners Unveil "Bucks Votes" Voter Education Initiative as Kickoff to Middletown Grange Fair

Following months of preparation geared toward the November 7 general election rollout of Bucks County’s new Danaher ELECTronic 1242 voting machines, the commissioners introduced the county’s “BUCKS VOTES” educational initiative during today’s bi-monthly meeting.

The meeting, which took place at the Middletown Grange Fair in Wrightstown, featured a broad glimpse of the multi-pronged educational training approach that will be implemented during the months leading up to the election.

“‘BUCKS VOTES’ ” represents our commitment to ensure that each and every member of the electorate has an opportunity to learn how to operate the voting machines,” said Chairman James F. Cawley, Esq. “Through neighborhood training events featuring hands-on demonstrations, brochures, an instructional video on the county’s website (Voter Education) and on Comcast’s ON DEMAND digital television platform, the plan is far-reaching.”

Voting Education Project Manager Theresa T. Savage is leading all aspects of the initiative. Savage, while taking a hiatus from her position as director of the tax claim bureau, is working in close cooperation with the League of Women Voters.

“The educational initiative, which will be conducted in partnership with the Bucks County League of Women Voters, includes our video, distribution of “BUCKS VOTES” informative brochures, promotional posters, and lapel stickers to be given to citizens after they try the machines at events scheduled throughout the county’s 54 municipalities.” Additionally, Savage will be meeting with local officials to maximize information sharing and knowledge at every level.

The county will also prepare a poll worker video that guides workers through the training in addition to their live sessions.

“There will be important elections this November, and we certainly want as many people to come to the polls as possible,” said Commissioner and Chairman of the Bucks County Board of Elections Charles H. Martin. “We have planned this extensive education campaign so they will feel comfortable when they arrive at their polling places.”

As a key element of the “BUCKS VOTES” unveiling, the Bucks County Grange Fair tent showcases two demonstration machines. They will be available for fair-goers to test throughout the five-day event, which ends Sunday, Aug. 20. They feature a specially created sample ballot, including hypothetical candidates with historical name recognition such as George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, John Jay, Aaron Burr, Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee.

During upcoming weeks, together with the League of Women Voters, Bucks County will conduct scores of voter education sessions at municipal buildings, senior centers, libraries and service organization in every pocket of Bucks County. These sessions will provide hands-on interaction with the machines’ demonstration sample ballot.

“Voting is a fundamental duty and right for all Americans,” said Kip Malloy, president of the Bucks County League of Women Voters. “We hope our citizens will take the opportunity to renew their commitment to the process of voting. We are confident that through all the scheduled training and information sessions, Bucks County voters will go to the polls knowledgeable about operating our new voting machines.”

In order to ensure wide access to information, Comcast has partnered with Bucks County to support voter education efforts. Beginning August 22, Comcast will make the training video available to customers on channel 96 throughout the county.  For voter training, viewers can watch the training video as many times as they want, at any time, via ON DEMAND from Comcast.  The video will be located in the “Bucks Votes” folder under the Get Local menu of ON DEMAND.  The video will be available through November 7.

On March 15, the commissioners voted to purchase the Danaher machines to comply with the U.S. Help America Vote Act (HAVA), a law requiring counties to replace lever and punch-card machines with a handicapped-accessible system meeting national voting machine standards.

The commissioners’ criteria, in order of importance, were always accuracy, ease of use and affordability. The Danaher machines, currently in use in Philadelphia, Berks, Dauphin, Monroe, and Delaware counties, have a life expectancy of 20 years.

To view the Commissioners’ “BUCKS VOTES” video, click Voter Education.Bucks Countians can look in their local papers for information sessions as they are scheduled.

How to learn about Bucks County’s new voting machines:  Click Here to watch the informative video and read the BUCKS VOTES brochure. Watch Comcast’s ON DEMAND “Get Local” channel to view the video. Tune in to Comcast cable channel 96 Send an email to bucksvotes@co.bucks.pa.us to inquire about demonstrations with your organization, or to request more information. Look for announcements about upcoming training sessions in your area.