Big turnout preparations
By JOHN REITMEYER
Burlington County Times  07 October 2004

 

MOUNT HOLLY - The Burlington County Board of Freeholders is purchasing 20 used voting machines to make sure the county is prepared to handle what might be a high turnout on Election Day next month.

The machines are being purchased at a cost of $2,500 each from McAfee Elections Services Inc., which has offices in Florida and Maryland. The machines cost $6,800 new.

The county already has 481 voting machines to use in voting districts throughout its 40 municipalities. The used voting machines will be added to the 14 backup machines that would be pressed into service if needed.

"We have an opportunity to purchase some pre-owned voting machines that we are in desperate need of," county Treasurer Christine Nociti told the freeholders during their conference meeting yesterday.

The used machines are the same make and model as those already in use, which went into service countywide in 1999.
 

In a memo sent to the freeholders, Burlington County Superintendent of Elections Joanne Nyikita said the machines are needed because her office is trying to keep up with a growing population of voters in the county.

Voter registration is approximately 255,000 for this year's election, which features the tight contest between President Bush and challenger John Kerry and races for three county government seats. Voter registration has increased by more than 15,000 in the county since the last presidential contest in 2000 and by more than 10,000 since the 2004 Primary Election.