The election commissioner or county clerk may use paper ballots, voting machines, punch card ballots, or optical-scan ballots to allow registered voters to cast their votes at any election. Paper ballots may be used in combination with other methods of casting ballots. The election commissioner or county clerk may use voting machines and vote counting devices for tabulating the votes cast at any election. Vote counting devices shall include electronic counting devices such as optical scanners and electronic tabulating machines used in punch card voting systems. Any new voting or counting system shall be approved by the Secretary of State prior to use by an election commissioner or county clerk. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Election Act, the Secretary of State may adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to establish different procedures for voting and counting votes pursuant to the use of any new voting or counting system. The procedures shall be designed to preserve the safety and confidentiality of each vote cast and the secrecy and security of the counting process, to establish security provisions for the prevention of fraud, and to ensure that the election is conducted in a fair manner.