Dear Commissioners:

I understand that you are snowed under with communications from voting integrity activists. I understand that the information pool as well as literature is enormous. And I also understand that you are expected to have in-depth knowledge of myriad issues that plague the county, not just voting integrity.

I add this to your heaps of correspondence because I heard that you are leaning in favor of the Danaher DRE that was exhibited at the Neshaminy Middle School last month. Let me relate to you my experience testing out the machine:

First something like an old-fashioned shower curtain was drawn around me. Then the official showed me how to vote, but I came to one button that would not work. He had to go around to the back of the machine to fix it. The whole frame felt extremely cardboard-like. Indeed, I almost lost my balance in response to my question how visually impaired voters could use the machine. The official dragged the machine up to my nose on a flimsy track. I am extremely myopic. I could now see the candidate names well enough, but the write-in descriptor was still illegible and struck me as extremely user-unfriendly. I cannot foresee anything but chaos even if, by some chance, voters know enough to use these flimsy devices come May. Because they (machines and voters) will break down so often. If a machine fails during an exhibition, you can imagine what will happen in a more realistic setting.

Just my personal encounter with a certified DRE.

PBOS [precinct-based optical scan] is the only way to go, believe me. Allow us to keep our sacred right to vote.

Marta Steele

Yardley