Schools had been using mechanical voting machines, many of which they obtained when towns had to give them up in favor of the electronic devices.
But the State Legislature is now requiring school districts to make the switch as well.
“The school districts may not use the old lever machines anymore at the end of this year,” Essex County Democratic Election Commissioner Mark Whitney told the County Board of Supervisors at a recent meeting.
“They’re beginning to request the electronic machines, so we’re developing a plan.”
The county owns dozens of electronic machines, used for elections in the county’s 18 towns.
The Help America Vote Act required states to adopt new voting machines for federal elections, and New York state chose to mandate the use of electronic machines for all elections in 2010.
Nonpartisan elections, such as those in school districts and some villages, were not covered until now.
As it stands, the mechanical, level-style machines may be used for nonpartisan elections until Dec. 31, 2015.
However, a bill pending in the State Legislature would extend the option through Dec. 31, 2016. Another bill would make permanent the option of using either electronic or lever machines.
The Board of Supervisors also reappointed Essex County Republican Election Commissioner Allison McGahay for a two-year term.
She is paid $18,504 a year in the part-time post.
©2015 the Press-Republican (Plattsburgh, N.Y.) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
