September 14, 2006

STATE REP.’S MIKE CHRIST, HENRY GENGA AND CHRIS STONE:
OUR DISTRICT TOWNS WILL LEAD THE STATE
WITH NEW OPTICAL SCAN VOTING TECHNOLOGY THIS YEAR

State Representatives Henry Genga (D-East Hartford), Michael Christ (D-East Hartford, South Windsor) and Chris Stone (D-East Hartford) announce that East Hartford and South Windsor were chosen out of 51 eligible cities and towns throughout Connecticut to use new optical scan voting machines during this November’s election. The optical scan machines will replace lever machines.

“East Hartford and South Windsor have been chosen as leaders in Connecticut,” said Rep. Christ. “The new voting technology will be an asset to our communities.”

East Hartford will receive fifteen new voting machines and 100 privacy booths while South Windsor will receive eleven new voting machines and 62 privacy booths.

“I am very excited that this new technology is being brought to East Hartford,” said Rep. Genga. “This shows the Secretary of State’s confidence in East Hartford’s capability to adapt to new technologies quickly.”

Twenty-five cities and towns were chosen following a survey that every municipality in Connecticut took part in, where they were asked if they would like to be considered for the new technology this year or wait until the 2007 elections. Fifty-one cities and towns expressed an interest in beginning this year.

“This is a great opportunity for East Hartford to lead the state in implementing this new technology,” said Rep. Stone. “We recognize and willingly accept this responsibility.”

Optical scan voting technology, in which a voter fills out a paper ballot and then scans it into a machine for verification, is the most common form of voting technology in America today. In compliance with state law and the federal Help America Vote Act, optical scan technology provides a paper trail for every vote cast.