NorCo Receives $342k For $2.9 M Voting System

Secy of State Kathy Boockvar (left) presents to Exec Lamont
McClure and Council VP Lori Vargo-Heffner

Pennsylvania's Acting Secretary of State, Kathy Boockvar, visited Northampton County on Thursday to present a $341,970 check to help pay for the $2.9 million Express Vote XL voting system approved by County Council in May. The County intends to use this system, which combines a 32" touch screen with a voter-verifiable paper trail, in November's election.

This purchase was an unfunded mandate. Last year, Pennsylvania’s Department of State directed all 67 counties to select new voting systems with a voter verifiable paper trail, making post-election audits more accurate. They must be in place before the 2020 primary. Though the statewide cost of this change is estimated at $125 million to $150 million, the state has yet to provide most of the funding. In fact, the $341,970 check delivered to Northampton County on Thursday comes mostly from a federal grant awarded to the states last year.

Sec'y of State Kathy Boockvar casts write-in vote for
Exec Lamont McClure on Express Vote XL.

The state legislature tried to help the counties. In July, the General Assembly passed a bill to reimburse counties for at least 60% of the actual cost of these new voting systems.

Governor Tom Wolf vetoed the measure because it also eliminated straight-ticket voting.

After this setback, Governor Wolf proposed floating a bond for new voting systems through the state's Economic Development Financing Authority (PEDFA). But Republicans argue the Governor lacks constitutional authority to borrow or spend money without approval from the General Assembly. Moreover, PEDFA bylaws prohibit borrowing on behalf of state departments without approval from the legislature.

Sec'y of State Kathy Boockvar meets a few
election judges 

Acting Secretary Boockvar still held out hope for a PEDFA bond on Thursday, but Governor Wolf appears to have reversed himself. He is now willing to support a bill nearly identical to the measure he vetoed in July. His spokesperson said that, despite opposition from many Democrats over the elimination of straight-party voting, the governor now views the amended bill as a compromise.

So far, 52 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties have taken steps toward selecting a new voting system. Northampton and Lehigh Counties are two of 46 counties ready to use these new systems in November.

Boockvar said Northampton County's Express Vote XL is one of seven systems certified at both the state and federal levels. She added that Pennsylvania's certification process is even more rigorous than the federal review.

Executive Lamont McClure put it more simply.

"Your vote will be counted," he said.

In addition to a paper trail for every ballot, the Express Vote XL has been lauded for its accessibility by organizations like the Pennsylvania Council for the Blind.

Lehigh County's New Voting System - The Movie

Lehigh County Voter Registrar Tim Benyo is now a movie producer. He has prepared a video explaining Lehigh County's new voting system, from start to finish.

What I love about Lehigh County's operation is their decision to use electronic pollbooks. That makes it so much easier for our election workers to find a voter. If a person should be voting somewhere else, the e-pollbook will make that clear, too. I have bugged NorCo County Administrator Charles Dertinger to get these, but he is a cheap bastard and called me the world's most overrated election judge. I complained to Executive Lamont McClure and he called me a third-rate election judge.

Lehigh Couny's voting system itself is designed to ensure that there is little question of voter intent, like those that delay the counts in Florida.

The problem with this system is there will be two separate lines. You will first stand in a line to make your selections. Then you will have to move to a separate line to cast your vote in a scanner. This could be a problem in a busy election. Northampton County election judges who viewed this system disliked this feature and preferred the ExpressVote XL.