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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Aptos><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>We should remind people about a few things now that we are coming into the voting season here in Iowa.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Aptos><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Aptos><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>First, nothing has changed since the last time that we voted except at we were told at State Convention a few more counties have changed to a different accessible voting machine. The most widely used machines of a few years ago are no longer being supported. There are only three counties using the Automark system that many of us really liked. Many others are using one of three other systems that all have strong points and weak ones.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Aptos><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Aptos><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Here are some general comments for you to think about since we have heard from people who did early voting and experienced the same problems they did in the past. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Aptos><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Aptos><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>The system that Polk County and several other counties uses is probably the most widely used one at this point. It doesn’t have too many problems but as we mentioned at convention and at least one person has experienced in early voting the screen may be durned off while you are casting your ballot. There is a switch right on the screen, I don’t know exactly where but it is on the front of the monitor as I recall to do this. That is thee to be used that it is available. The machines does have instructions that may play before you cast your vote. This gives you the opportunity the procedures to handle normal operation. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Aptos><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Aptos><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Remember, if problems arise while you are voting and you need help ask for it. If the help you receive doesn’t meet your expectations you need to report this to your County Auditor and to the voter hotline at the Secretary Of State’s Office on election day itself. They will both need to know when and where the problem occurred. It is helpful if you let one of us from our Legislative Committee know too since we work with the hotlines both at the state level and the national level. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Aptos><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Aptos><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Problems may be solved if we have record of them and they are documented. Yes, there will always be some problems because we are dealing with people and some things are going to happen that are not going to be possible to plan in advance. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Aptos><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Aptos><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>There has not been as much opportunity this year for early voting because of the changes in the law last year. Election day itself is going to be an exciting experience. Yes, each county has had more training for pol workers than they have in the past but remember that most of the people that you deal with on election Day volunteers and some are going to understand all of the ins and outs of what they are doing better than others. That means that the more you know going into the polling place the less likely you are to have problems. Hopefully you won’t have too many things that are unexpected.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Aptos><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Aptos><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Aptos><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Aptos><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Bob Ray, NFBI<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Aptos><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Legislative Committee Chair<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Aptos><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p></div></body></html>