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Written by Bryan Hunt - Breese Journal Editor

    The Clinton County Board unanimously approved the purchase of new equipment for elections, at the urging of the county clerk and recorder.
    Vicky Albers explained that the need for the new equipment has been present for a couple of years, “And it’s not going to go away,” especially with a presidential election coming up in 2020 “we feel like now’s the time to make this happen” and it’s something that counties, nationwide, are having to upgrade on.
    March 17, 2020, is the date for the primary election.
    Albers said their hope is that federal funds become available to help with the purchase. The cost is around $240,000 “which is a lot but it is also something we have to have.” 
    She said the county will work on a payment plan, but the county is able to handle this purchase within their own budget.
    Albers said the county’s current equipment is about 15 years old and the technology that is used to run that equipment was designed in the 1980s and has “really outlived its usefulness, so for a lot of reasons it’s time to move on and get something new for the county.”
    The new system creates what is called a voter-verified paper ballot, which Albers said is being recommended by entities such as Homeland Security, and is something that counties will be mandated to switch to eventually.
    It will be equipment that is in all county polling places as well as the recording equipment in the clerk and recorder’s office which tabulates the ballots. 
    The system will still utilize both paper ballots and the touchscreen system, Albers said, “and are very user-friendly” and voters can do so in English and Spanish and are Americans With Disabilities compliant.
    Albers said the equipment, initially, will be stored in-house, but the larger boxes that hold the ballots are out at the polling places. She said the logistical details have not been worked out just yet. There is a trailer to transport equipment also.