Florida may

not be the only state to have voting machine problems, according to Robert

Ray, a Georgia assistant secretary of state.

Ray spoke on

the election process during the Fayette County Civitan Club's recent meeting.

It was determined

that the undercount vote in Georgia was at 3.5 percent, compared to a

2.9 percent undercount in Florida, Ray told the Civitans.

"There

are four different types of voting machines in Georgia," he said,

"and our office feels that all 159 counties must have the same kind.

The only way this can be done is to have the state of Georgia purchase

them.

"The one

we recommend is an electronic one," he said. "You would touch

the screen to place your vote, and then call up a screen showing just

what you had done, and another touch would complete the process. The precinct

totals would be available within minutes after closing."

The secretary

of state's office will ask the 2002 legislature for the funds to put these

machines in 13 cities chosen from around the state to be used as a test.

The electronic

machines could also handle Braille voting as well as the text appearing

in Spanish.

The long range

goal would be each voter having a card similar to one used at ATMs, allowing

you to vote anywhere in Georgia, Ray said.