BATAVIA, Ohio (June 4, 2019) – The Clermont County Board of Elections has purchased 155 ExpressVote machines that are ADA-compliant and will be available at each precinct during elections. The machines, which cost $713,473, are replacing AutoMARKS, which were first used in the 1996 presidential election.
ExpressVotes are touch-screen machines that print out a paper ballot. They include an audio-tactile keyboard to help those with various disabilities, including blindness.
The Board of County Commissioners approved the purchase at its May 29 Session. The purchase also includes a new high speed scanner, and a ballot-on-demand print system.
“The ballot-on-demand system will offer an immediate savings to the county,” said Elections Director Julia Carney. “The Board of Elections is required to pre-print ballots equal to 101% of the registered voters in each precinct. Since there is never a 100% turnout, the unused ballots, which cost 30 cents each, are destroyed.”
Now, as a voter comes into the Board of Elections office for early, in-person voting, a ballot can be immediately printed out.
The cost of these upgrades will be reimbursed by the State of Ohio, Carney said.
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