Oakland ready for Election Day

While voters gear up to cast their ballots today, thousands of students, volunteers and workers… While voters gear up to cast their ballots today, thousands of students, volunteers and workers from the Allegheny region will finally put all their hard work on display. ‘ ‘ ‘ On Sunday roughly 4,510 new iVotronic voting systems were placed in precincts across the county with around 6,600 paid volunteers working diligently to account for voters’ ballots. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘We’ve been busy these past few months ‘hellip; incredibly busy,’ said Mark Wolosik, Allegheny County Elections Division manager. ‘ ‘ ‘ Wolosik, a Pitt alumnus and former psychology major, has worked every major election since the 1970s. ‘ ‘ ‘ The Allegheny County Elections Division covers every aspect of the voting process from voter registration and voting machine preparation to polling place selection and absentee ballot recognition. According to Wolosik, the new voting machines have been extensively tested.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ Election Systems ‘amp; Software Inc., the world’s largest supplier of total election administration solutions, produced the touch-screen iVotronic voting system in response to the terms of the 2002 Help America Vote Act. ‘ ‘ ‘ The portable iVotronic allows for paperless voting that prohibits multiple votes and undervotes, in which the voter doesn’t select enough candidates for their ballot to be counted. ‘ ‘ ‘ It is also outfitted with multiple languages and an audio ballot function for voters with visual impairments. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Equipment began being delivered a week before Election Day and will be ready on Monday [Nov. 3]. The actual setup on Tuesday will be done by polling place officials,’ said Wolosik. ‘ ‘ ‘ For students, the closest iVotronic-equipped voting facilities to campus will be at Soldiers ‘amp; Sailors Memorial and Posvar Hall, identified on voter cards as ‘Forbes Quad.’ Soldiers ‘amp; Sailors will be open for normal visitation free of charge to guests on Tuesday. Back hallways of the building will be used, and eight polling machines will be available to registered voters. Like all polling places, the building will be open to voters from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘We’re expecting a good turnout on Tuesday,’ said Amber Gehring, an employee at Soldiers ‘amp; Sailors. College organizations ready to vote ‘ ‘ ‘ On campus, politically oriented organizations have been gearing up for Tuesday’s arrival for months. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘The College Republicans have been doing a lot of phone banking, door-knocking and any tasks necessary at the local campaign offices,’ said College Republicans president Pat Graham. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘I know there have been certain individuals in our organization putting in nearly 10 hours a week helping out with local campaigns,’ said Graham. ‘We have had probably a minimum of 15 individuals putting in at least a few hours a week this semester.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ Pitt’s College Democrats have also been working to prepare for Election Day. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘We had a big voter drive at the beginning of the semester. Now, we’ve been focusing on ‘Get out the Vote,’ trying to educate students both about Obama and also about local candidates for state legislature and Congressional races,’ said College Democrats president Lissa Geiger. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘We’ve also educated college students about everything concerning voting: how, when, and where to vote, what you need to bring with you, what to expect with waiting times ‘hellip; everything,’ said Geiger. ‘ ‘ ‘ Students should expect to see both parties tabling all over campus today, reminding them to go out and vote. ‘ ‘ ‘ Both groups said they hope that their efforts could help reduce wait times, or at least make them more pleasurable and ensure that every student gets the opportunity to cast his ballot.