Voting equipment purchases approved in Hunterdon County to meet state mandated in person early voting
Voters Have Option To Vote In Person On November 2nd
HUNTERDON COUNTY, NJ – Hunterdon County voters will have the opportunity for early voting beginning October 23 and to experience new voter sign-in technology at the polls, both mandated by the state, as a result of the County Board of Commissioners’ recent approval of the purchase of voting equipment from Election Systems & Software (ES&S).
Hunterdon County voters will also have the option to vote in person at their regular polling place on November 2.
Board Director Susan J. Soloway said, “I know we are all very happy with the fact that the state has returned to in person voting for the election in November. And now we will meet the mandate to have in-person early voting in 2021 with the purchase of the new technology voting machines.”
The board approved the purchase of thirty-nine ExpressVote XL machines from ES&S at a cost of $428,390.
“Under the state’s implementation schedule, early voting will begin October 23 and run to October 31. The polls will be open from 10 am to 8 pm on weekdays and Saturdays and from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sundays. I am advised that the Board of Elections has designated three in person early voting locations for Hunterdon County; the North Branch Library in the Town of Clinton, the Main Library at the County’s Route 12 Complex in Raritan Township, and the South County Fairgrounds’ 4-H Building, in East Amwell. I extend my thanks and congratulations to the entire elections team for their work in preparing for this new world of voting in Hunterdon County,” Soloway said.
The Commissioners also approved the purchase from ES&S of 298 electronic poll book terminals, at a cost of $400,860, also mandated by the state. The new e-books will bring a higher level of voter sign-in technology to each polling place in the county.
The Board’s Deputy Director, John E. Lanza, who serves as liaison to the Board of Elections, said, “The Commissioners have been advised by the Board of Elections Administrator Beth Thompson that the $980,829 cost of the two contracts should be covered by reimbursement from the state under the requirement for state mandate, state pay. Once that reimbursement is received, and the new voting machines have been seen in action, the County can move forward on the purchase of the additional 138 new technology voting machines that are necessary to replace the Board of Elections’ present aging fleet of machines for next year’s election.”
“Voters continue to also have the voluntary option to vote by mail,” Lanza said.
For more information on voting in Hunterdon County, visit www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/elctindx.htm.
