OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Vote-counting went smoothly during the general election in Oklahoma last week, but the state's election machinery is outdated and may soon be headed for the scrap heap.
State Election Board Secretary Michael Clingman said Monday he is hopeful a new voting system will be in place for the 2010 election.
Clingman said at least two companies are working on a new system that will fulfill the state's needs, including an audio system and touch pad to assist handicapped voters.
Most voters will not notice a difference under the new system, which will continue to use optical scanners and paper ballots.
It also will increase ballot box security because of the capability of taking a photograph of each ballot cast.
Oklahoma has about $28 million in federal funds from the 2002 Help America Vote Act to finance the new system.
"We've had an excellent system, especially for one that was bought in 1992," but it is antiquated, with all the technological improvements since then, Clingman said.
"How many people have PC's (personal computers) from 1992 that are still on their desks today?" he asked.
Much of the cost of the new system will be replacing the main frame computer at the Capitol. About 3,000 voting machines also will be replaced in the state's 77 counties.
Clingman said less than 20 of the state's voting machines at 2,300 precincts had to be swapped out last Tuesday night because of power outages or other problems.
He said under the new system, votes will be counted more quickly and ballot design will be easier.
He said one option for the 2010 election will be designating so-called "super precincts" for early voting on Friday, Saturday and Monday before election day, thereby reducing the number of provisional ballots.
A provisional ballot is created typically when people show up to vote, but their names are not on the precinct rolls.
Oklahoma, New York and New Hampshire are the only states that have not spent the bulk of their federal funds from the 2002 appropriation on new systems. Several states spent large sums on new voting machines that were quickly outdated.
Congress voted to finance upgrading election systems around the country after the 2000 controversy in Florida over "hanging chads" that led to the Supreme Court decision that decided the presidential election in favor of George W. Bush over Al Gore.
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