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By MARK GUYDISH; Times Leader Hazleton Bureau
Saturday, June 10, 1995 Page: 1A
HAZLETON — Tired of donkeys and elephants? The two-party rut?
There’s always the Wild Party. Or the Smuck Party. Even the Halloween
Party.
They are some of the 94 federally recognized political parties listed in
the computerized “motor voter” system that has come to Hazleton. Similar
systems are being implemented statewide.
Some other choices include the Birthday Party, the Grand Metacosmos Party,
and — for Teddy Roosevelt fans — the Bull Moose Party. There’s even the Whig
Party.
The computerized voter registration system began operating June 1 at the
Driver License Center, 1052 S. Church St. It allows those who are getting a
photo license to register to vote or to change party affiliation at the same
time they get their photo licenses.
Jim Correalle, supervisor at the Hazleton center, said only those getting
or renewing a license can register at the center. He added that the center
registers voters for federal elections only.
To register for county and local elections, voters must still obtain forms
and mail them into the Luzerne County Election Bureau in Wilkes-Barre.
A special card mailed to license applicants by the state Department of
Transportation, which runs the license center, is needed to ask for access to
the motor voter computer.
The computer works like this: those seeking photo licenses are shown a
screen that poses several “yes” or “no” questions. One is “would you like to
register to vote?” If the applicant answers “yes,” the screen verifies which
county the applicant is from and then offers six of the most common party
choices: Republican, Democratic, Constitutional, Libertarian, Patriot, No
Affiliation, and Other.
If an applicant chooses Other, the computer operator asks which party he
wants to join. Others among the 94 are the Everyday Party, the Non-Committal
Party (not to be confused with the Non-Partisan or Independent parties), and
the No Longer In Use Party.
Curiously, there’s even the Pedestrian Party — accessible at a center for
drivers.
Mary Ellen Sacco, director of the Luzerne County Election Bureau in
Wilkes-Barre, said she had not been given much information on the motor voter
system. She said she always gives voters one form that registers them for all
elections.
Both Sacco and Correalle say the system for registering to vote is somewhat
confusing because Pennsylvania has contested the federally mandated motor
voter program and installed computers to run it only after being ordered to by
the courts.
“This is a very important step in Pennsylvania,” Sacco said. “We’ll get it
cleared up.”
The motor voter system is just part of a complete upgrade in equipment at
the driver center. The entire photographic identification process has been
computerized. Even the applicant’s signature is registered electronically, no
ink required.
The digital camera allows applicants to approve their photo, displayed on a
computer screen, before it is printed. The only requirement by the state is
that eyes are open to show eye color.
Correalle said most applicants accept the first picture, though some insist
on retakes. “Eight is the record,” he said. “One woman came to me and told me
I had to fire the camera operator. When I asked why, she said, `He makes me
look heavy.’ ”
The Hazleton location will be a one-stop center for all licensing
operations, Correalle said. Those hoping to get licenses can take both their
road tests and written tests there.
Further plans include having a license hearing examiner on site one day a
week. The examiner meets with drivers who face suspension of a license because
of repeated traffic violations. After a formal hearing, the examiner
determines whether the license is suspended. Currently, Correalle said, there
are no hearing examiners available on a permanent basis in Luzerne County.
TIMES LEADER/PETE G. WILCOX
Tammy Long of Mahanoy City uses the motor voter computer at the photo
license center in Hazleton. Looking on is license technician Jim Ferry.