Thumbs up to the distribution of new, electronic voting machines leased to several York County towns by the state, with funding from the federal Help America Vote Act. These machines, which have nearly 100 percent accuracy, will help to streamline the ballot counting process in Maine’s small towns and eliminate the need for multiple countings to void human error. In this day and age, all towns should be able to use technology to count ballots rather than staying up until the wee hours counting them by hand, but the cost of the machines has been prohibitive for some. We’re glad to see this federal money being used to help out clerks and election staff, and look forward to next year when local ballots can also be run through the machines.

Thumbs up to all of those who organized mock elections at schools throughout the state in the past few weeks. The results from the 240 schools that participated will be released this week on the Secretary of State webpage, and even though a rally planned to coincide with the voting was canceled due to the storm, we’re sure the voting process was a good learning opportunity for students. It’s also an interesting snapshot of what we can likely expect from the real voting tomorrow, provided their parents honor their civic responsibility to get out and cast their own ballots.

Thumbs up to the organizers of the Kathleen Gavin Helping Hands Fund at Biddeford Primary School, which provides personal items, snacks and books to students in need. The fund honors the memory of a former ed tech who was known to use her own money to help supplement some children’s care. No teacher should have to do that, but many simply cannot stand to let some children go without. With this fund in place, boosted by a generous donation from Sons of AMVETS, teachers will no longer be in the position that Gavin was, and can instead help their students through the fund instead of out of their own pockets.

Thumbs up to the Louis B. Goodall Memorial Library staff, who recently celebrated 75 years in the building at the corner of Main and Elm streets, which was turned over to the town after it was commissioned by the Goodall family. Through the years, the staff has adapted to the technology and demands of the times, keeping its 10,000 patrons well-pleased with both their fiction and nonfiction needs. Here’s hoping that the library has many, many more years ahead as people continue to use its books and technology both as an information resource and recreational escape.

Thumbs up to the state officials who decided to reverse a decision to end bingo games at the Biddeford Fifty Plus Club. The games are back now, giving seniors a weekly event that draws them out of the house to share an afternoon with friends. An earlier decision by Maine State Police Special Investigator Jim Gass had ended the bingo games, based on his understanding that the players should not be allowed to receive cash prizes. The state does make an exception for senior groups to host bingo games with such prizes, however, and we are glad the state officials disagreed with Gass’ assessment of state law and found that the club fell under the exemption. Many seniors look forward to these weekly games and it’s great to see them back.

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Thumbnails is a Monday feature of the Journal Tribune’s opinion pages. If you would like to respond, please write the Reader’s Forum via email at jtcommunity@journaltribune.com or by dropping your letter off at our Biddeford office.