Recent newspaper editorials have called for a resolution to well-documented problems with voting machines and I couldn't agree more. Voters should know, however, that responsibility for fixing the system isn't with local clerks, but with state and federal officials.

In fact, the only reason the machines have functioned as well as they have is because of the hard work, dedication and professionalism of your city and township clerks. They have used everything from silicone to duct tape to hold these new, so-called "state-of-the-art" machines together and keep them running properly.

They spend hours before each election preparing each machine, testing and re-testing them. As one local clerk has said, even after testing, "we hold our breaths" to see if they'll keep working.  Surveys done by our office after every election since communities were required to purchase the machines has shown problems in the double-digits - failed motherboards, bad printers, power issues. Some machines won't accept ballots. Others crunch up ballots like accordion fans. In the Presidential Primary election, of 495 voting machines used, clerks reported problems with 14.9 percent of them during preparation or on Election Day.

After the 2000 presidential election, federal officials spent billions of dollars to overhaul America's system of voting, but too little oversight created a worse debacle. Machines have design and manufacturing flaws. More than 2,000 wheels had to be replaced on the machines immediately because they were so difficult to move.

Another example? The new machines jam so easily that every 50 votes or so, many election workers literally have to empty the bins or at least pat down the ballots on every machine. Voters wait.

In early 2007, local clerks in the Oakland County Clerks Association asked for a recall of the AutoMARK machines, which help disabled voters mark their own ballot in privacy - a very worthwhile goal. According to precinct worker reports, however, many haven't worked well since communities were forced to purchase them as part of the federal Help America Vote Act. (HAVA)

Since 2006, our office has advocated for local clerks, calling, meeting with and writing to state officials, congressional leaders, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission and the vendors themselves, pushing to have problems resolved.

Local communities will bear the burden of these machines for years to come and the responsibility of keeping them working. The original warranties expire on the voting machines and the AutoMARKS at the end of this year. Communities will have to pay between $133 to $388 per machine annually for new warranties - and this for some machines that had problems the minute they were unpacked.

The answer? Local clerks have done all they can. They believe so strongly in voting, in Democracy, that they've worked very hard to keep the system going. It's because of their diligence that every vote counts. Their hard work and ingenuity should be applauded.  Meanwhile, state and federal officials must acknowledge these problems, hold vendors' feet to the fire to make necessary repairs and work to extend original warranties.

Ruth Johnson
Oakland Clerk/Register of Deeds

On Jan. 15th, you'll have an opportunity to have your vote count and your voice be heard in Michigan's presidential primary election.

The timing was unfortunate for a number of reasons, but thanks to a lot of scrambling, determination and hard work by your local clerks and our elections team, polling places will be open and waiting.

A few things to keep in mind as you head to your local precinct:

• Bring your wallet. Remember that you'll have to show current photo identification under Michigan's new Voter ID law. Acceptable forms are a driver's license, passport, a state or federal ID card, military ID, a student ID or tribal identification card. If you forget your photo ID, you will be allowed to vote if you sign an affidavit.
• Know that you will have to declare a political party preference - Republican or Democrat. I don't like it either, but lawmakers decided that this election would be a closed primary. You'll indicate your choice on your application to vote form. (There are a few communities with non-partisan, local ballot proposals, too.)
• There is an option on both the Republican and Democrat ballots that will allow you to simply vote "uncommitted" - which leaves decision on specific candidates up to your national convention delegates.
• Write-in votes aren't valid unless candidates have registered with the state before the election. (As of this writing, no write-in candidates had registered.) Your vote for Mickey Mouse, your mom, your dog or your Uncle Bob will simply be disregarded. Don't waste your vote.
• Only four of the Democrat candidates will be listed on your ballot and one of them, Chris Dodd, has already dropped out of the race. Some well-known candidates will not appear because of a dispute with the Democratic Party over the timing of the Michigan's presidential primary election.
• If you're not sure where you are registered to vote, visit our web site at www.oakgov.com/clerkrod and click on elections. Click on "Where Am I Registered?" for assistance.
• Be kind to your local clerk and your poll workers. They were probably up before sunrise, at work by 6 a.m. and will put in a good 12 or 13 hours at the polls - more out of patriotism than for the pay scale. Chances are they don't like declaring their party preference any more than you do and they're wondering why they're not in Florida like their neighbors.
• On election night, we'll have nearly up-to-the-minute Oakland County results on our web site. Visit often to see how the presidential hopefuls are doing.

There's plenty not to like about this election, but it is part of our system of Democracy. Vote.

Ruth Johnson
Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds

MAY 2007
Stripping away townships' authority

MAY 2007
Another waste of taxpayers dollars

MAY 2007
When the going gets tough in government