New election equipment will have limitations at start

Although new voting machines will be available in every polling place for the first time this fall, most people will still be using the 50-year-old, lever-operating equipment.

The state Board of Elections said optical scanners used to count votes made on new machines will not be available until 2009, so ballots cast with that equipment this year will need to be hand-counted.

One reason for making the 2008 election the last year for using the lever machines was to avoid fully implementing new technology in the middle of an election that is expected to see a higher than usual turnout, said state BOE spokesman Bob Brehm. Voting activity is expected to increase this fall because of the presidential contest.