Although elections officials say they’re seeing more failures with their 13-year-old touch-screen voting machines, it could be years before voters get to cast ballots on a new statewide system that’s estimated to cost at least $40 million. “South Carolina has been using the current system since 2004, and it’s reaching the end of its useful life,” said Chris Whitmire, a spokesman for the state Election Commission. “We are seeing more issues with machines, the most common of which is touchscreen failure.” He added: “While no votes are lost when that happens — and we can handle isolated failures — we have to take steps to ensure the viability of the system in the years to come.”
There are some 13,000 machines covering every precinct in the state, and 700 machines in Spartanburg County for its 98 precincts.
Earlier this month, on Election Day, a handful of problems with the touch-screen machines were reported to Henry Laye, director of the Spartanburg County Voter Registration and Elections Office.
“They still serve their purpose admirably, but we’re seeing a loss of sensitivity on some voting machines, which makes it very hard to make your selection,” Laye said. “We’ve had no votes lost. It’s not a major issue, but it’s continuing to be one.”
Full Article: SC voting machines seeing more problems with age.