Reaction positive to new voting machines

The new computer voting machines available at the four Oahu absentee polling centers were getting high marks yesterday as absentee voting opened across the state.

Michelle Smith, a representative for Hart Intercivic Inc., said the eSlate voting machine provides a printed copy of the vote, which pleased several voters.

The machine also allows disabled residents to vote without having to relay their vote choices to someone.

"We had a woman who is blind vote for herself for the first time using the electronic voting machine," Smith said.

One voter, Kendrick Mun, a city Department of Parks and Recreation supervisor, used electronic voting and said he liked that the computer "reminded you if you didn't vote in every race."

However, another voter, a federal retiree, said he tried electronic voting for the first time this year and found it confusing.

"My advice: If you don't like computers, stay out of it and use the paper ballot," he said.

A voter at Pearlridge, Bernie Nii, said she had no problems with the electronic voting machines.

"It was easier than paper. It was easier than I thought it would be, but I wanted to try it because everything is electronic now," Nii said.

Other voters complained that they did not like the Hawaii electronic system because they could not vote in more than one political party's primary election. (Under Hawaii's system, voters must choose only one party.)

Wallace Lee, a city facility maintenance worker, said he voted in more than one primary race and had his paper ballot kicked back.

"I had to redo the ballot, but this is a problem -- they don't let you jump around," Lee said.