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Husted Asks State For $118 Million To Replace Ohio's Aging Voting Machines

Voters cast ballots at the Franklin County Board of Elections in Columbus on the first weekend of in-person early voting.
Karen Kasler
/
Ohio Public Radio
Voters ballots at the Franklin County Board of Elections in Columbus during the fall 2016 early voting period.

Ohio’s top elections official is asking state leaders to include money in the upcoming capital budget to buy new voting machines.

Secretary of State Jon Husted says most of Ohio’s voting machines were acquired more than a decade ago. He says updating voting equipment should be a priority. After all, he points out social media was in its infancy back when most of the machines were purchased.

The state Department of Administrative Services estimates it will cost about $118 million.

Husted wants the expenditure approved in the capital budget next year so there will be enough time to buy new machines and get them installed before the 2020 presidential election.

Jo Ingles is a professional journalist who covers politics and Ohio government for the Ohio Public Radio and Television for the Ohio Public Radio and Television Statehouse News Bureau. She reports on issues of importance to Ohioans including education, legislation, politics, and life and death issues such as capital punishment.