Changes at the Polls

(WOLO) RICHLAND COUNTY,S.C., —

It’s been nearly a year’s worth of leg work, meetings and roundtable discussions, but the Richland County Election Commission says they are more ready than ever, in fact eagerly anticipating the upcoming election.

Election Commission Chair, Howard Jackson says they have implemented a series of changes to ensure you have the smoothest voting process possible starting with the machines. In 2012 one of the reported problems were too few or broken machines that left people standing in lines for hours to cast their ballots. This year, Jackson says all 497 machines have undergone inspections not once, not twice but three times and are in the process of being deployed to each precinct.

Jackson says in addition to the upgrades in machines, they’ve also implemented new software allowing them to track each machine in real time. A new Call center, already up and running has been set up for all election poll workers to call in questions and concerns from the time polls open until they close. This year, instead of waiting for someone to find your name on a long paper list, all precincts will have at least one laptop for faster service.

” I put myself in the shoes of the voter. Everything we’ve done has been with the voter in mind, not us the voter…I think voters will definitely notice a change this election.”

The real test will come next Tuesday, as many of you head to the polls, but officials say they’re ready and  preparing for all possibilities.