Oakland County, Michigan, Thursday, October 9, 2008 -- A new video, designed to help first-time voters as well as seasoned voters with information on new voting machines and procedures, is now available online, announced Ruth Johnson, the Oakland County Clerk and Register of Deeds.

"Voting 101" is available for viewing on the Clerk's web site at www.oakgov.com/clerkrod. Free copies are also available at the Clerk's Office by calling (248) 858-0560.

"This is the first time the new voting machines have been used in a presidential election," Johnson said. "No citizen should be intimidated - this video shows them how easy and convenient it is to cast their ballot on Election Day. It highlights Michigan's new voter ID requirements,  how to vote if you don't have a valid ID, the optical scan voting machines, the AutoMARK machine for voters with disabilities and takes the mystery out of voting."

Copies of the DVD, designed by Oakland County's Elections Division, have gone out to local libraries as well Oakland County's 51 local city and township clerks and local public access television stations.

A second DVD also debuted recently - this one created to assist local clerks with training their election workers, Johnson said.

"Local clerks, who run their own elections, do a wonderful job of training their poll workers," Johnson said. "It is it intended as a supplement to assist them in their training."

Groveland Township Clerk Pam Mazich applauded Johnson and the county's Elections Division for the voter education video as well as the second video created to help train precinct workers. Hundreds of the training videos were distributed to local city and township clerks.

"Both DVDs will be used by my office to make sure we cover all of the important issues and have a smooth Election Day in Oakland County," Mazich said. "I appreciate any help I can get."

Media members can view the Voter Video at www.oakgov.com/clerkrod. Copies of both videos, which are free, are available free of charge, at the Oakland County Clerk's Office. To interview Johnson, call (248) 858-0850.