SECRETARY OF STATE URGES UTT STUDENTS TO REGISTER TO VOTE
By: ROY MAYNARD, Staff Writer
02/01/2006

GETTING OUT THE VOTE: Texas Secretary of State Roger Williams talks to University of Texas at Tyler students Wednesday. (Staff Photo By: Brad Smith)
Texas Secretary of State Roger Williams stopped at The University of Texas at Tyler on Wednesday to demonstrate how easy the state's new electronic voting machines are to understand and use.

Williams, flanked by local elected officials, also urged a crowd of college students to be sure to register to vote by Feb. 6.

"That's the only way you can send your message to Austin," Williams said. "It's how you can say, 'This is how I want my Texas to look.'"

The centerpiece of his VOTEXAS program is a 33-foot-long bus with educational materials and demonstrations of the new electronic voting machines, which were mandated by the federal Help America Vote Act.

"The new VOTEXAS program will help Texans understand that voting in Texas is easier, faster and more secure," he said. "It will help voters understand their rights and responsibilities and allow them to test new voting equipment before they get to the polls."

Smith County purchased the new machines last year. The 385 machines cost $1.35 million, but state and federal governments helped pick up the tab.

The machines were used for the first time in the Nov. 8 constitutional amendment election. That election proved a good trial for the machines, as 25,003 Smith County voters cast ballots, breaking a record for constitutional amendment elections.

"The new machines have been tremendous," County Judge Becky Dempsey said at Wednesday's event. "They're so easy to use."

VOTEXAS is a yearlong public education program, according to Williams, that will also focus on educating voters on the process. The program will encourage people to find out where they'll vote, when they'll vote and how to use the new equipment.

"Ultimately, VOTEXAS can help increase voter participation because it will remove apprehension about new voting systems and procedures and make the voting experience as user-friendly as possible for every Texan," said Williams.

The machines will be used when early voting begins in the March 7 party primary elections. Early voting is Feb. 21 through March 3.

Also on hand Wednesday were state Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, state Reps. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, and Tommy Merritt, R-Longview, UT Tyler President Dr. Rod Mabry and Smith County Elections Administrator Paula Patterson.

Roy Maynard covers county government and politics. He can be reached at 903.596.6291. e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

©Tyler Morning Telegraph 2006