By Karen Middleton
karen@athensnews-courier.com
—
Voters Tuesday will find something new on the Primary Election ballot.
Where previously, voters were instructed to complete the arrow at their candidate of choice with a dark, straight line, now they will have to completely fill in an oval shape.
Probate Judge Mike Davis, who is the county’s top election official, said filling in the oval is important so that each vote could be counted by new, upgraded voting machines the county is leasing this year.
“The updated equipment is designed to read ovals,” said Davis. “We want to make sure that everyone at polling knows this and polling officials emphasize to voters that for their votes to be counted to fill in the oval.”
Davis said the county switched from the old Eagles machines to the M-100, which has updated electronic standards compliant with federal 2002 voting standards.
The polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
After voting, Davis encourages voters to join family and friends for the traditional “Election Night on the Square.” Residents bring folding chairs and sit under the trees on the east side of the Limestone County Courthouse as election results are announced and placed on the big screen.
Now that first floor courthouse renovations are complete, Davis said returns would be received in the Grand Jury Room of the main courthouse rather than the Probate Judge’s office in the Clinton Street Annex, the setting of recent election returns.
