County acquires 28 new voting machines for $238K

Board of Elections to replace equipment from 2009

File photo by Tom Rivers: A voter casts a ballot at Hoag Library on June 23, 2020 on one of the voting machines that is expected to be replaced in time for the general election in November.

ALBION – When voters cast ballots in the November election, they will likely be doing them on new voting machines.

The County Legislature has authorized the Board of Election to purchase 28 new machines for $238,972.50 from Clear Ballot Group of Boston, MA.

The county purchased the current optical-scan machines in 2009, replacing the old mechanical lever machines, technology that had been used for about a century.

When the county made the switch to the optical scan machines, they were expected to last about a decade, said election commissioners Mike Mele and Janice Grabowski. The county used them for about 15 years.

The machines have worked well, but the change is necessitated by new computer technology in the Election Management System or the “backbone” of the machines, Mele said.

The new machines will be compatible with the Election Management System used by the county.

The Board of Elections has been setting aside money in its budget towards the replacement cost of the machines, Grabowski said.

The county also is using $5,607 in HAVA (Help America Vote Act) grant monies and $11,878 in TIER (Technology Innovation and Elections Resource) grant funds towards the purchase, leaving the remaining $221,487 as the county cost.

There are 11 voting sites in the county and each site will have a voting machine, plus a backup. The BOE also will have six more in case there are any breakdowns with the 22 at the voting sites.

The new machines will be better able to detect markings on the ballot. Voters will be able to use a ballpoint pen, instead of a marker, Mele said.

The machines will also be equipped with technology for people to vote who are blind or hard of hearing. Click here for more information about the Clear Ballot Group machines.

The state Board of Elections will calibrate the new machines. Mele and Grabowski said they are hopeful the new ones will be ready for early voting in late October and the election on Nov. 5.