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November 9, 2009

Election official reflects

By Rich Flowers News Editor

Since Henderson County Election Administrator Denise Hernandez moved into her office, it’s been one new thing after another.

She stepped into the newly-created position in January, 2008, at a time when new technology and regulations have brought constant changes to the way elections are conducted in the county.

Tuesday’s Constitutional Amendment Election brought another first as the county instituted the use of electronic books used at the polling places to check whether or not the voter is qualified, and at the right location.

Some workers had problems working the machines, Hernandez said, but the count was complete earlier than the 2007 amendment election, which only brought 5 percent of the registered voters to the polls. This time the tally was nearly 8 percent.

“This is just something that’s going to take a little time for them to get used to,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez said the electronic poll books enabled her to retrieve information quickly from the various boxes. In the early balloting, she was able to get the number of those casting ballots instantly.

“I didn’t have to wait to the next morning for it to be totaled,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez said the election provided a good warm up for the 2010 Democrat and Republican Primaries, which roll around in March. She said it might be a good idea to take advantage of new rules allowing teens 16 and older to assist at the polling places.

“This time there’s a new law that you can get high school students to work as clerks,” Hernandez said. “Maybe the parties might be interested in getting some high school students to work with their judges. It would be a snap for them.”

With the counties 31 precincts consolidated to 10 polling places, each was equipped with one of the electronic books. In the primary, only a few of the locations will have the machines.

“The Republicans and Democrats will each have to have one, so we will only utilize them at five locations,” Hernandez said.

With the amendment election over, Hernandez’s office will step up preparations for March.

“I’m working on it now,” Hernandez said. “I’m getting my contracts together for the party chairs.”

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