Kosciusko County is upgrading its 220 voting machines, putting the county in a better position to consider moving from the traditional precinct voting system to the use of voting centers.
The upgrade to the machines will cost an estimated $299,872 and should be complete for the 2018 campaign season, which includes numerous county races and Congressional races, said Ann Torpy, the county clerk.
Changes include new software, new motherboards and new glare shields.
While the voting machines did not experience troubles in the 2016 races, Torpy said they needed upgrading after 10 years of use.
Some of the internal batteries were slowing down, but the machines were still functioning and were still certified with the state, Torpy said.
The improvements are being done by Indianapolis-based MicroVote, which manufactured the machines, Torpy said.
The upgrade in software will allow the county to use the machines in vote centers if the county chooses to make the change.
Unlike the traditional precinct voting system, voting centers rely on fewer places to vote, but allow voters to cast ballots at any vote center in the county.
Voting centers also could be used to expand early voting if officials choose to do so, Torpy said.
Several counties, including Elkhart County, have made the move to voting centers without any major hang ups.
“It seems to be a favorite in other counties,” Torpy said.
Discussion about transitioning to vote center has not begun in Kosciusko County and Torpy cautioned that such a move will take time if the plan gets a green light.
Most likely, a committee would be established to help with assessing whether to make the change. Final approval would rest with the county commissioners and the county election board, she said.
Any transition, if approved, would not be ready before the 2018 election season, she said.
The county uses paperless voting machines that look much like an ATM machine. But unlike a touch screen, selections are made with buttons on the side.
