DOVER, Del. (AP) - State lawmakers have signed off on a comprehensive, $13 million upgrade of Delaware's voting system, including all new machines, an electronic poll book to speed up voter check-in, and a new election management system.
The co-chairs of the legislature's capital budget committee on Monday endorsed the unanimous recommendation of a bipartisan task force to enter into a contract with Election Systems & Software LLC.
ESS was one of seven vendors who submitted proposals, but the only one whose bid covered all of the state's requirements, including a voter-verified paper ballot backup system.
Election Commissioner Elaine Manlove says the new machines will start being used in school and municipal elections next year.
The state is using $3 million in federal funds and $10 million in state funds for the new system.