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New Voting System Developed at Auburn University

A group of Auburn University students is helping the disabled to exercise their right to vote.Prime III is a new voting system, that could help all voters cast their ballots by 2008.

An automated voice, is what voters hear when they put on the Prime III headset. Prime III is a touch-screen voting system, that allows every American to cast a vote. Creator, Dr. Juan Gilbert, is a professor at Auburn University.

"It allows you to vote by touch or voice if you can't read, see or hear, you can still vote," Gilbert said.

Prime III has been in development since 2003. This week the system will be tested out in a campus wide vote.

"we are finally at a point where we believe our system is the most secure system and the easiest to use, what is more natural that speech or touch?" asked Gilbert.

During the mock election, in order to be neutral, the choices are burgers and fries, rather than democrats and republicans. As far as security, voter privacy is protected using randomly generated numbers.

"Two people can be voting at the same time for the exact same person and they have different numbers for that person. If my dreams come true it would be the primary voting system for 2008," said Gilbert.

The mock election to test Prime III will happen October 19th. Then, different computer companies will see if they can hack they system. If all goes well, the group will apply to get prime three used in a real election.