my day at the polls

Well today I went to Little collins street where there were several other blind people, guide dogs, and free food to try out an electronic voting system. And as far as I am aware, Melb is the first to have this trial, (could be wrong). but, I understand that this is going to be available at the November election.
It was overall very impressive.
First of all I met debbie there and a few others I knew, and I saw my former vermont german teacher for the second time in two years. think she works for VA now; or something, not quite sure of her situation, but think she's having sight problems now. Anyway, so it was cool to catch up with her. Of course i didn't know who she was when she introduced herself to me by her first name, nor her last (cos it's different now) so she addressed me in german Lol! hahaha! nah, just the (Frau) Miss and her former name Craig!
anyway, when it was my turn I went up, got like a hard electronic card, got taken to a booth, put headphones on and was told to insert the card. My pbiggest problem was (that I told them later in the feedback session) that it wasn't really explained too much what it was all about. I got the email the other day, replied and said I'd participate, turned up today, got meeted and greeted and showed up stairs then, nothing really. maybe it was meant to be done that way but I was a tad confused. It was basically a key pad (like a telephone key pad) we had in front of us, attached to a puter. there was also braille beside that with the keyboard layout in braille squares with the buttons labeled. also a text reference of the buttons. anyway, so once I inserted my card, a human mail voice guided me through a hypothetical Albert part vote of upper house and lower house. the candidates were funny -- people like Apple Jonathan, Pear Nushy, Orange Nable, people/fruit like that.
anyway basically the instructions were Thorough, a bit too Thorough sometimes and a tad confusing other times. like, there was an enter to select our vote, and a continue to confirm our votes. there were two types of arros; one lot for within the screen, and the other for going back and forward a screen.
I should add that there was also a touch screen option for those who had more site.
anyway I voted for Apple Jonathan in the lower house, and, (can't remember who) in the upper house. Then after the vote was confirmed and then locked in, I took my card out, ate some lovely sandwiches while answering some feedback questions which a young girl was scribing for me. We then had the focus session which we gave feedback, (mostly positive of course but suggestions for improvements too of course.). I knew pretty well everyone except one guy. this guy seemed quite negative about the whole thing and basically thought it was unrealistic to expect to go and take all that time to listen to "unclear" (he thought) instructions and maybe have someone there supervizing the initial "getting-to-know-where-everything-is" session. All of us except him said we'd definitely use it at the next election, even though course there was room for improvement; but that's like anything.
There'll be one at Kooyong so that's what I'll be doing in November (for the federal election). Now I will have to get to know my politics. I was telling them that til now I'd just told a parent to "just tick anyone; I don't care." It got everyone laughing and a comical "shsh" (as there were election mannagers there listening and taking notes! :)
I went in with Nan who kindly agreed to show me where it was, and she hung around the city and came back and we then went home our separate ways. It wasn't hard to find though.
Last night went to Mum's for tea. Nan had been there ironing. Dad was still coming back from Sidney.
Til Next time, RdFreak