Forsyth County Recommends Current Supplier For New Voting Machines

The Forsyth County Board of Elections is recommending new voting machines that include a paper ballot option during early voting. 

The five-member elections board unanimously recommended that new voting equipment be provided by Elections Systems & Software, a company that partners with North Carolina-based Printelect.

The Winston-Salem Journal reports that ES&S supplies the touch-screen machines currently being used. Those units are being decertified because new rules require that all voting machines produce a paper ballot.

Officials expressed confidence in the new machines, although some observers believe that bar codes placed on some types of ballots could pose a security threat.

The new voting equipment will cost about $1.2 million. The recommendation now goes to the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners, who will make the final decision.

Guilford County officials have postponed making a decision on choosing a vendor until October 1st.