There's something so exciting, so entertaining, so deeply satisfying about voting, and the new touch-screen machines ought to enhance that experience when they debut during the next election.
On Thursday, I put my finger on a touch screen, cast a test ballot and loved it.
I've always thought of election days as representing the only political and governmental occasions when the people are the central players. They are the doers and decision-makers, and the day belongs to them, not the candidates.
So voting makes me feel more empowered, even when the votes I cast turn out to be in the minority. Having a voice - participating in the process - is just plain fun.
Thirty years ago, Leflore County bought its first voting machines, so that's when Leflore voters switched from marking a paper to pulling a lever. Come the June 6 primaries, they will be pointing a finger.
That is going to be easier than using an automatic teller. You know how an ATM will pose a question - but it's not clear which button to push for the intended answer? You push the wrong answer and then have to cancel and start over again. It's irritating to get confused.
None of this is likely with touch-screen voting.
The machine I tested was one of two District 1 Election Commissioner Deveda Dillon brought to Altrusa International's regular luncheon meeting at Yianni's. Some of the members - I am one - marked a mock ballot, titled "Mississippi Favorites."
We chose our favorite writer, musician,TV personality, food, football player, events and state park. I picked William Faulkner, Jimmy Buffet, Morgan Freeman (even though he's an actor and not a TV personality), seafood gumbo, Jerry Rice, and the Natchez Pilgrimage and the Delta Blues Festival (even though I have attended neither). But I disliked the state park choices, so I decided on a write-in vote, Leroy Percy park in Greenville. Hope it's still open.
The process is simple. A pollworker hands you a card. You slip it into a slot. The machine activates. You look at the screen. You can adjust the size of the type, making it larger or smaller. Then follow the directions and just touch your finger to your selections.
Suppose you make a mistake. Touch the same selection again, and your mark will clear. You don't have to worry about pulling the right lever.
You also don't have to be concerned about overlooking one of the races. The machine will give you a prompt before it registers your vote.
And you have two chances to check your votes before you finish.
The machine collects the votes in three places: on a paper tape that looks like a ticket from a cash register, within its memory and on cards that pollworkers will turn over to other officials for tabulation of results.
Young adults who are first-time voters probably won't think a thing about all of this. They have come of age during the digital revolution and are used to swiping cards or touching keyboards rather than writing checks - or just using cash. So all of this will be no big deal - unless they don't turn out to vote.
We all know how few of the young but eligible voters participate in the election process. I understand why they believe voting is not important, but I think they are wrong. And I think they are missing a chance to have some fun.
After all, voting makes you feel wonderful.
