About half of the state's electric users already have been exempted from rolling blackouts. As the nation watches the stunning Florida controversy over disputed election ballots and recount methods, one California county already has implemented a new generation of election technology that uses a voter's simple touch on an electronic screen. While all California counties use voting systems the state certifies as secure and reliable, some policy-makers say they will push for more to follow Riverside County's example and adopt newer technology. The machines, located in regular polling places, constantly and automatically count and recount vote totals, but facsimiles of paper ballots can be printed out for a hand recount if desired. Election officials, who see their voting machines used perhaps three or four times a year at most, may have trouble convincing higher powers of the need for a substantial new investment.
Machines offer voter privacy, are relatively small and are located at regular polling places.
It uses the Internet, but only from polling place-based computers using what company officials say is securely encrypted data. VoteHere.net is seeking to get its system approved for public elections in California. At the demonstration, voters could cast a pretend ballot by simply using a computer mouse to point to their choice and click. Again, voters could not accidentally vote for two people for president. Certainly online voting could increase the efficiency and increase the accuracy and speed in which elections are performed.