Delaware County Holds Voting System Demonstration on June 6

Delaware County residents are invited to learn more about five new proposed voting systems during a public demonstration on June 6 at the Aston Township Community Center.

In April 2018, the Pennsylvania Department of State notified all counties of a December 30, 2019 deadline to select a new voting system that provides a voter verified paper record. The new systems are to be in use no later than the 2020 primary election. The directive requires counties to use machines that have a paper trail that can be verified by voters and audited.

The County’s Board of Elections, Delaware County Council and the County’s Executive Director began researching new voting systems in 2017 to identify systems that would have paper trails, allowing for more accurate and reliable post-election audits. In Pennsylvania, every voting system and paper ballot must include plain text that voters can read to verify their choices before casting their ballot. Election officials will also use the plain text to perform pre-election testing and post-election audits and recounts.

There are five systems, certified by the federal and state governments which provide a voter verified paper record: Clear Ballot, Dominion Voting, ES&S Election Systems & Software, HART Intercivic, and Unisyn.

Each of the systems will be on display at the public demonstration, allowing residents to learn more about each system and also test the machines. Representatives from each of the five companies will be on hand to answer questions. Resident’s input is welcome. A survey will be available at the demonstration to assess the community’s feedback.

Residents are invited to attend the demonstration between 4:00p.m-7:00p.m. on June 6 at the Aston Township Community Center (3270 Concord Rd. Aston, PA.) The demonstration is open to all Delaware County residents. No registration is needed. Delaware County Council and the Board of Elections will be given a separate presentation and demonstration in the morning. A separate presentation will also be given to residents with various physical and mental disabilities earlier in the afternoon.

Delaware County plans to have a contract in place with a vendor by the last quarter of 2019.

The new voting machines will be used in the 2020 Primary, as mandated by Governor Wolf.