Do you want to test your voting skills before Nov. 7? Two styles of new voting machines that will be used for the Nov. 7 elections are up and operating at the Quay County Courthouse for voters to try out, said Ellen White, Quay County clerk. The machines are using mock ballots, so that prospective voters can get the feel of and practice on the new machines. The mock ballets let you pick your favorite ice cream or you can "vote" for your favorite singer, including Elvis or Billy Holly. "These machines will be set up now through Oct. 6," White said. "Anyone who wants to try them out can do so. We also want to encourage all our volunteer poll workers to come in and try them out." There are two types of new machines. An optical scanner voting machine, that can read a voter's ballot and detect if there are any mistakes. If a voter makes a mistake, the machine rejects the ballot. "It gives the voter the opportunity to make corrections by getting a new ballot and starting over," White said. There are also special machines for the disabled. They offer, among other things, a height and configuration that is wheelchair accessible, earphones with volume control, Braille buttons and large type and visual aids that allow the text to be seen as black on a white background or vice versa. The machines can also be adapted to someone who uses a sip-and-puff unit. Statewide, about $2 million was spent by the New Mexico legislature on new voting machines, so that all the precincts in the state would have the same voting equipment,White said. "Statewide every person votes the same way," White said. "The integrity of the vote is very high." Voting machines for Quay County cost about $200,000, White said. Tucumcari resident, Jim Allen, who stopped by the clerk's office, checked out the new machines. "I think it's pretty good," Allen said. "I think that will work out great." To vote on Nov. 7, you must be a registered voter. To register you have to provide your name, birthday, address and Social Security number. For information contact White at 461-0510. Voter registration is available from now through Oct. 10 at the following locations: Tucumcari Quay County Clerk's Office Citizens Bank Everyone's Federal Credit Union Tucumcari Housing Authority Tucumcari Public Health Office Veterans Administration Office Wells Fargo Bank First National Bank Tucumcari Federal Savings & Loan Tucumcari City Hall Mesalands Community College Tucumcari Public Library Tucumcari Motor Vehicle Office Logan, San Jon and House Visit the Village Office Nara Visa Call Travis Nelson at 633-2220.