In preparation for the upcoming Primary Election in June, Ocean County has approved the purchase of new voting machines. The Board of Commissioners has authorized the acquisition of 850 Election Day voting machines and 72 early voting machines from Election Systems and Software at a cost of $9.4 million.
According to Commissioner Virginia E. Haines, the decision to purchase these machines was based on their reliability and efficiency. The purchase will include all ancillary equipment, software, licensing, and maintenance costs. After conducting an in-person assessment of New Jersey certified election machines, the Ocean County Board of Elections determined that the best option was the Election Systems and Software, LLC, Express Vote XL Voting systems.
One of the main advantages of these machines is that they provide greater ease for casting a ballot, especially during early voting when a paper ballot is produced as part of the voting process. By replacing all of the county's voting machines, the aim is to provide uniformity and familiarity for the voters, making it easier to train poll workers and avoiding the need to merge data between different brands of voting machines.
The new machines will feature a newer software version with greater safety protocols to ensure that ballots can only be read once. The decision to purchase these machines was made after a thorough review by the Board of Elections and the Board of Commissioners. As Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners Joseph H. Vicari noted, it's important for voters to know that due diligence was conducted before deciding on which new voting machine would be purchased.
The County is also expected to receive a $2 million credit from Election Systems and Software for the voting machines it currently has. The new voting machines are scheduled to be delivered in the next several weeks.
What you need to know:
- Ocean County will be buying new voting machines ahead of the Primary Election in June.
- The County will purchase 850 Election Day voting machines and 72 early voting machines from Election Systems and Software for $9.4 million.
- The decision to purchase these machines was based on their reliability and efficiency.
- The purchase will include all ancillary equipment, software, licensing, and maintenance costs.
- The Ocean County Board of Elections determined that the best option was the Election Systems and Software, LLC, Express Vote XL Voting systems after conducting an in-person assessment of New Jersey certified election machines.
- The new machines will provide greater ease for casting a ballot, especially during early voting when a paper ballot is produced as part of the voting process.
- By replacing all of the county's voting machines, the aim is to provide uniformity and familiarity for the voters, making it easier to train poll workers and avoiding the need to merge data between different brands of voting machines.
- The new machines will feature a newer software version with greater safety protocols to ensure that ballots can only be read once.
- The decision to purchase these machines was made after a thorough review by the Board of Elections and the Board of Commissioners.
- The County is expected to receive a $2 million credit from Election Systems and Software for the voting machines it currently has.
- The new voting machines are scheduled to be delivered in the next several weeks.
