Gorbachev Explains Computerized Vote 3 Times for Deputies
In a Parliament that was once low-tech and rubber-stamp, a computerized voting system got off to a bumpy start today.
President Mikhail S. Gorbachev had to explain the system three times before the 2,106 attending members of the Congress of People’s Deputies got it right.
The deputies were to insert their identity cards into hand-held vote-counters, press a button to register their names, then press another button indicating “yes,” “no” or “abstain” before handing the machine to the next person.
Gorbachev first asked the deputies to simply register their names. The result was 333 for, 11 against and 6 abstentions. The remaining 1,756 apparently pushed no button at all.
Gorbachev explained the system again, and the second time, 1,985 names were recorded.
“Maybe some people still have to learn, but we are on the right track,” he said.
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