NH House Tests New Voting Machines

State representatives in the opening session of 2014 tested out new voting machines that were installed recently in Representatives Hall.

The new, updated system is clearer than the previous system, and includes the bill number and vote tabulation posted on the display. It also gives a very short explanation of the vote. The new system also has more modern sounds than before to notify representatives when to start the 30-second voting process and when the voting ends.

To test the upgrades out, state Rep. Stephen Shurtleff, D-Penacook, the House Majority Leader, sponsored a motion to honor President George Washington, noting that he was the father of America and leader of the Revolutionary War. The machine displayed “Like George?” on the motion.

A roll call vote was called, to test out the upgrades, to giggles in the room, and after a bit of delay, the proposal was approved. 

A move was made to reconsider the vote, to test out that process, which displayed “Reconsider” on the screen. That motion failed.

House Speaker Terie Norelli, D-Portsmouth, asked for patience from representatives while installers worked out some of the bugs, including the system’s delay in mathematically figuring out whether or not a two-thirds vote occurred. She added, however, that the results of the votes would be posted on the House’s website with 30-seconds of the vote.

The system cost $545,000 to install and was included in last year’s capital budget.