After the State Board of Elections in April decertified the touchscreen voting machines used in 20 percent of Virginia’s precincts, the localities with June primaries were left scrambling to find replacements for their WinVote equipment in time. But a state elections official says one way or another, the voters there will be accommodated. While localities are implementing a variety of short-term fixes, the state is working on a more long-term, uniform solution.
Ten localities have June primaries, and some had to replace hundreds of machines. State Department of Elections Commissioner Edgardo Cortes says it’s very costly to replace these machines AND to ensure that the new voting systems aren't as flawed as the old. So, for now, some localities will buy or lease new machines from different vendors—while others are utilizing different machines and hand counting ballots.
Four vendors are "courting" localities, and all have equipment that Virginia certifies for use. All localities with machines vulnerable to cyberattacks must replace them by the November election. But, again, money is a challenge. No state or federal funds are currently available to make the permanent transition, and lawmakers are being asked to provide the funding.
