Early voter season is in full swing and now some are raising the question about election equipment. Many counties are using systems more than a decade old. Some fear it could impact votes. It’s important to note, voter machines are only used twice a year. By law, they have to be checked and repaired constantly before use. Still, the non-profit Illinois Campaign for Political Reform is calling for a statewide assessment. They say outdated technology is a threat to election security, especially since cyberattacks are more common. There hasn’t been a statewide effort to update voter machines since the federal government granted the state $2 billion in 2002. Local governments are responsible for paying and updating their systems.
Depending on finances, some haven’t gotten around to it. In Sangamon County, machines are dated to 2008 and rely on paper ballots. The clerk there says they’re comfortable with the way things are.
Macon County is one of several with updated voter systems. It uses a touch screen to cast votes. The clerk says it was a necessary improvement which has made voters in the area very happy.
Overall, many clerks say there’s nothing voters need to be concerned with, but they’d be happy if the state did a statewide assessment.
Full Article: Election equipment up to the task? | IllinoisHomepage.