Voters in Niimi, Okayama Prefecture, will make Japanese history when they go to the polls June 23 and use electronic voting machines instead of writing the names of candidates on blank ballots.
In a fashion quite similar to withdrawing cash from an automatic teller machine, voters will look at a list of candidates appearing on a screen to elect a mayor and assembly members.
The machines are expected to reduce significantly the time needed to count votes and reduce the problem of questionable ballots.