SOS Gives Thumbs Up To Voting Equipment Funding

The Secretary of State’s office is backing the governor’s budget proposal that calls for $10 million to replace aging voting equipment.

SOS spokesman Fred Woodhams says the money would be used to upgrade the state’s voting equipment including tabulators that count paper ballots, election management software and devices that help disabled voters cast ballots.

He says the equipment currently being used was rolled out in 2004 and 2005 and is beginning to show its age.

Under the plan, the state money would be paired with $25 million in federal and $5 million in local funds.

Local cities and townships will own and maintain the equipment.