"The testing is to make sure all the machines are working properly and when they do go to the polls there's no questions or anything," said Cole

County Clerk Marvin Register.

Register works with an experienced crew.

"We do this testing before every election," said Register. "It's required to do this before and after every election."

The ten testers pal around as they work hours doing their tedius testing. "We'll normally work eight hours down here," said Register. "Normal working hours is what we work, today it'll be seven hours. We started at nine. We'll end at 4:30 p.m."

A tall electric fan circulates air in the small office-sized rooms they share with thirty-eight ballot machines. The chatter is constant, but it is not enough to drown out the beeping sounds of the equipment they test.

It could certainly take it's toll.

"It makes a long day," said Register, "You can't just continuously do it, you gotta stop and rest a little bit."

John Bluma, who has been a ballot machine tester for six years said that by the end of the day he is "ready to go home and put my feet up."

With a laugh, Register said,"No, there's no perks for this job."