Public Invited To Test New Voting Machines In Delco

MEDIA, PA — New voting machines in Delaware County will be available for the public to test next week in Media.

The new machines will be on display and available to test from noon to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday in the lobby of the Government Center, 201 W. Front St. in Media.

Trainers will be available to answer questions.

Delaware County Council unanimously voted to purchase the Hart Verity 2.3.4 Voting System in October 2019, following a recommendation by the County’s Board of Elections.

The system, certified by the PA Department of State, is a paper ballot system that offers receipts for voters and includes plain text which voters can read to verify their vote before casting their ballot.

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

Delaware County Council, the County Board of Elections, and the County’s Executive Director began researching new voting systems in 2017 to identify systems that would meet the new federal and state requirements.

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.

Additional demonstrations and trainings will be held around the County to educate residents and train poll workers for the 2020 Primary. If a group or organization wants to host a machine demonstration, call 610-891-4673.