Two central-count optical scan machines fail just before the primary election.

They were "a little touchy" in April's elections, forcing the county to purchase new parts, Miller said. Since then, problems have compounded. Ballots have come out with roller marks, write-in votes are not being read and ballots have jammed, among other issues.

The county spends about $5,000 a year for voting machine maintenance. Miller has been in constant contact with a technician in Texas, telling him the problems and trying different solutions. If things "get desperate," she may request that he travel to Portage to look at the machines.

Miller said many problems may be software-related, rather than with the machines themselves. In that case, the maintenance company may not be able to help.