Print
Comment
Rate
Meetings to offer voter registration, information
By Shar Porier/Wick Communications
BISBEE - The Cochise County Elections Office will begin holding public information meetings next week throughout the county.
A meeting in Willcox will be held Friday, Aug.1, 4 to 6 p.m. at Willcox City Hall, Suite A, 101 S. Railroad Ave., Willcox.
County staff will be on hand to sign up unregistered voters, provide information about early voting and voter identification requirements, as well as show potential voters what the voting process entails, said Pat Viverto, voter outreach coordinator.
In order to register to vote, a resident of the county must provide some form of photo identification - a driver's license, non-operating identification license, tribal enrollment card, valid U.S. federal, state or local government-issued identification card.
Without a photo identification card, a resident is required to provide at least two of the following: utility bill dated within 90 days of the date of the election, bank or credit union statement dated within 90 days of the date of the election, valid Arizona vehicle registration, Indian census card, property tax statement or a recorder's certificate.
As of June, Cochise County had 66,152 registered voters.
Of that figure, 25,813 are Republicans, 22,171 are Democrats, 17,805 are listed as "other," 247 are Libertarians and 116 county residents registered as members of the Green Party, according to the state election Web site.
Tom Schelling, county election official, said this will be the second time the county has offered the informational meetings.
The first series was held before the 2006 primary election.
The informational meeting will give voters the chance to learn about the ballots, how to mark them and what to do with the ballots after they have been marked and completed.
Election Systems & Software optical scan M100 machines are used to tabulate the ballots at each precinct in Cochise County, Schelling said.
For disabled voters who may have difficulty marking their own ballots, an ES&S AutoMARK touchscreen device is at each precinct.
"The election program is thoroughly tested in-house by staff working with the county IT Department," Schelling noted.
"An independent testing of the voting equipment is conducted by the secretary of state prior to each election.
A representative from the political parties is invited to participate in the testing of the equipment.
After the election, the political parties are involved with a hand count of randomly selected precincts and offices to again check the accuracy of the M100's."
"There is no set discussion at the meetings, we are there to answer questions and demonstrate the equipment," Schelling said.
Viverto said, "We've invited candidates as well as party representatives to be available for one-on-one interactions with the voting public."
Viverto and Schelling say while they do not know which candidates will show up at which location, there will be someone from each political party there to answer questions.
The Elections Office still needs more volunteers to work the polls for both the primary and general elections.
"We have received a very good response from the excellent article that the Herald ran a few weeks ago, and we are still working on setting up the election boards," Schelling said.
To become a poll worker or find out information, call 432-8972 or sign up online at cochise.az.gov and click on the "Elections/Special Districts" link.
Other area voters open houses held by the Cochise County Elections Office:
€ Wednesday, 4 to 6 p.m. at the Sunsites Community Center, 1270 Treasure Road, Sunsites.
€ July 25, 6 p.m. at Elfrida Community Center, 10550 N. Highway 191, Elfrida.
€ July 29, 6 p.m. at Benson council chambers, 120 Sixth St., Benson.
Herald/Review reporter Shar Porier can be reached at 515-4692 or by e-mail at shar.porier@bisbeereview.net.
A meeting in Willcox will be held Friday, Aug.1, 4 to 6 p.m. at Willcox City Hall, Suite A, 101 S. Railroad Ave., Willcox.
County staff will be on hand to sign up unregistered voters, provide information about early voting and voter identification requirements, as well as show potential voters what the voting process entails, said Pat Viverto, voter outreach coordinator.
In order to register to vote, a resident of the county must provide some form of photo identification - a driver's license, non-operating identification license, tribal enrollment card, valid U.S. federal, state or local government-issued identification card.
Without a photo identification card, a resident is required to provide at least two of the following: utility bill dated within 90 days of the date of the election, bank or credit union statement dated within 90 days of the date of the election, valid Arizona vehicle registration, Indian census card, property tax statement or a recorder's certificate.
As of June, Cochise County had 66,152 registered voters.
Of that figure, 25,813 are Republicans, 22,171 are Democrats, 17,805 are listed as "other," 247 are Libertarians and 116 county residents registered as members of the Green Party, according to the state election Web site.
Tom Schelling, county election official, said this will be the second time the county has offered the informational meetings.
The first series was held before the 2006 primary election.
The informational meeting will give voters the chance to learn about the ballots, how to mark them and what to do with the ballots after they have been marked and completed.
Election Systems & Software optical scan M100 machines are used to tabulate the ballots at each precinct in Cochise County, Schelling said.
For disabled voters who may have difficulty marking their own ballots, an ES&S AutoMARK touchscreen device is at each precinct.
"The election program is thoroughly tested in-house by staff working with the county IT Department," Schelling noted.
"An independent testing of the voting equipment is conducted by the secretary of state prior to each election.
A representative from the political parties is invited to participate in the testing of the equipment.
After the election, the political parties are involved with a hand count of randomly selected precincts and offices to again check the accuracy of the M100's."
"There is no set discussion at the meetings, we are there to answer questions and demonstrate the equipment," Schelling said.
Viverto said, "We've invited candidates as well as party representatives to be available for one-on-one interactions with the voting public."
Viverto and Schelling say while they do not know which candidates will show up at which location, there will be someone from each political party there to answer questions.
The Elections Office still needs more volunteers to work the polls for both the primary and general elections.
"We have received a very good response from the excellent article that the Herald ran a few weeks ago, and we are still working on setting up the election boards," Schelling said.
To become a poll worker or find out information, call 432-8972 or sign up online at cochise.az.gov and click on the "Elections/Special Districts" link.
Other area voters open houses held by the Cochise County Elections Office:
€ Wednesday, 4 to 6 p.m. at the Sunsites Community Center, 1270 Treasure Road, Sunsites.
€ July 25, 6 p.m. at Elfrida Community Center, 10550 N. Highway 191, Elfrida.
€ July 29, 6 p.m. at Benson council chambers, 120 Sixth St., Benson.
Herald/Review reporter Shar Porier can be reached at 515-4692 or by e-mail at shar.porier@bisbeereview.net.
 |
 |
|
| What's behind SSVEC's rate request? | New county board to oversee building codes |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of willcoxrangenews.com.
