Logan County voters in precinct 13 got a glimpse of the future of voting Tuesday as they tested out a new method of voting on a new machine.

County Clerk Scottie Harper explained that the one precinct used the machine as part of a very limited pilot program in the state. Early feedback on the machine has been very positive, Harper said.

With the new voting machine, voters are given a paper ballot and allowed to sit down at a place where a divider have been put up to provide privacy. The voter can then take his time marking the ballot. When finished, the voter signs a removable stub which is placed in one side of the machine and then slides the ballot into the machine to be counted.

“I like it,” said Harold Ray Scott, poll worker for the 13th precinct. “It's simple.”

David Stanley, who also worked at the 13th precinct, said he sees many advantages to the new voting method.

“This gives a real good paper trail,” Stanley said.

Harper said that is one reason officials like this new method. If there is a problem or question, all the ballots are in the machine for checking.

Stanley said the new method can also keep the lines going more quickly since several people can be filling out their paper ballots at the same time and then sliding them into the machine only takes a few seconds. This will be especially helpful when the ballot is long.

“You're not rushed,” Scott said about being able to sit down and fill out the ballot.

Scott and Stanley have both worked elections for several years. They said the overall response to the new method was positive. Scott said some remarked that it would take a little getting used to, but they liked it pretty well.

“I think it's the future,” Scott said.

Harper agrees that voters will probably be seeing these machines on a regular basis fairly soon and that is why he wanted Logan County to have a chance to get an early look at the new machines.

Harper said the federal government may give the order to get the new machines and if that happened, they would probably provide some financial assistance to replace the old machines. With the presidential election just one year away, Harper said he expects to see the change soon, perhaps even in time for the primaries in May.

Some counties, like Jefferson County, have already gone to all paper ballots.

Stanley said he thinks the change would be a good one and that voters would like the new method.

“The reception of the voters was very positive,” Stanley said.