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Some use may come for the new decertified electronic WinVote voting machines, and generate money for the County of Wayne at the same time.
A firm, Elections USA Inc., of Quakertown, is leasing 60 of the machines to use for polling purposes in New York State and Virginia, said Cindy Furman, director, Wayne County Bureau of Elections. On Tuesday, the County Commissioners were notified that the agreement has been ironed out between the County and the firm.
Elections USA Inc. had approached the County, and has agreed to lease the machines at $150 a unit, for 90 days, which will raise $9,000 for the County. An external hard drive will be interfaced with the machines by Elections USA Inc. for use by poll station workers to verify voters as they come to vote, and will not access the internal hard drive, where there was a software issue leading to the machine’s fall from grace statewide.
Chief Clerk Vicki Lamberton stated they hope the Pa. Department of State will permit the money raised to be used towards the expenses of switching to the paper ballot system. The state had reimbursed the money for the electronic touch screen machines they decertified last October, which has been used towards the purchase of optical scan devices. The County also must pay for other expenditures such as the printing of ballots and the metal ballot boxes.
She added that there was a possibility the firm might want to purchase the machines from the County if they find them satisfactory. This could keep them from the same fate of the old lever machines which were discarded in 2006 when the switch was made to electronic machines. Furman said the County has no use for the electronic machines, which have been put in storage.
The optical scan machines arrived by truck that very morning. The new metal boxes came last week, which replace the cardboard variety used temporarily for last November’s election.
Many voters switching
Meanwhile, the election office has been very busy. Furman stated after the Commissioners’ meeting that “many people” have been leaving the Republican Party and switching to Democrat before the April 22nd Primary. She said this was highly unusual, but this is an unusual election, she added. There was one instance so far of a Democrat who came in to switch to Republican.
She said she did not have specific statistics yet. The deadline to register to vote, or to switch party, is Monday, March 24. The Courthouse is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. though this week, but is closed for Good Friday. On March 24, the Election Bureau at the Courthouse will remain open until 7 p.m. to accommodate the public.
In other matters, the Commissioners approved the promotion of two employees who are filling vacancies. In both instances, the positions were advertised both externally and internally.
• Margaret Hicks was approved to coordinate services in the Human Services Agency with a client family to find out how best to help a child.
• Tracey Radtke was appointed as casework supervisor on the adult side within the MH/MR department.
The Wayne County Commissioners meet on Tuesday and Thursday at 10:30 a.m. in the Courthouse.
Some use may come for the new decertified electronic WinVote voting machines, and generate money for the County of Wayne at the same time.
A firm, Elections USA Inc., of Quakertown, is leasing 60 of the machines to use for polling purposes in New York State and Virginia, said Cindy Furman, director, Wayne County Bureau of Elections. On Tuesday, the County Commissioners were notified that the agreement has been ironed out between the County and the firm.
Elections USA Inc. had approached the County, and has agreed to lease the machines at $150 a unit, for 90 days, which will raise $9,000 for the County. An external hard drive will be interfaced with the machines by Elections USA Inc. for use by poll station workers to verify voters as they come to vote, and will not access the internal hard drive, where there was a software issue leading to the machine’s fall from grace statewide.
Chief Clerk Vicki Lamberton stated they hope the Pa. Department of State will permit the money raised to be used towards the expenses of switching to the paper ballot system. The state had reimbursed the money for the electronic touch screen machines they decertified last October, which has been used towards the purchase of optical scan devices. The County also must pay for other expenditures such as the printing of ballots and the metal ballot boxes.
She added that there was a possibility the firm might want to purchase the machines from the County if they find them satisfactory. This could keep them from the same fate of the old lever machines which were discarded in 2006 when the switch was made to electronic machines. Furman said the County has no use for the electronic machines, which have been put in storage.
The optical scan machines arrived by truck that very morning. The new metal boxes came last week, which replace the cardboard variety used temporarily for last November’s election.
Many voters switching
Meanwhile, the election office has been very busy. Furman stated after the Commissioners’ meeting that “many people” have been leaving the Republican Party and switching to Democrat before the April 22nd Primary. She said this was highly unusual, but this is an unusual election, she added. There was one instance so far of a Democrat who came in to switch to Republican.
She said she did not have specific statistics yet. The deadline to register to vote, or to switch party, is Monday, March 24. The Courthouse is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. though this week, but is closed for Good Friday. On March 24, the Election Bureau at the Courthouse will remain open until 7 p.m. to accommodate the public.
In other matters, the Commissioners approved the promotion of two employees who are filling vacancies. In both instances, the positions were advertised both externally and internally.
• Margaret Hicks was approved to coordinate services in the Human Services Agency with a client family to find out how best to help a child.
• Tracey Radtke was appointed as casework supervisor on the adult side within the MH/MR department.
The Wayne County Commissioners meet on Tuesday and Thursday at 10:30 a.m. in the Courthouse.
