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Union County Election Board Announces Outreach Schedule for New ExpressVote XL Voting Machines

Elizabeth, New Jersey – The Union County Board of Elections announces that the new ExpressVote XL Voting Machines will be fully implemented in the 2019 General Election, with the machines debuting for the first time in the following municipalities: Clark, Cranford, Hillside, Linden, New Providence, Plainfield, Rahway, Roselle, Roselle Park, Scotch Plains, Springfield and Summit.

Voters in Berkeley Heights, Elizabeth, Fanwood, Garwood, Kenilworth, Mountainside, Union, Westfield and Winfield completed the transition to the new vote tabulation system during the course of the last two elections.

“For the first time in twenty years, the County has taken steps to make a significant investment in its election infrastructure. Voters who are already using the new machines have embraced the change. They appreciate the ease of the touch screen as well as the benefit of knowing their vote is properly recorded, provided by the voter verified paper audit trail,” explained Nicole DiRado, Administrator at the Union County Board of Elections.

“Union County was among the first three counties in New Jersey to introduce the new voting machines last year, and we are looking forward to having this new technology available in all 21 of our municipalities,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “I encourage all residents to attend one of the upcoming demonstration sessions and familiarize themselves with the new machines before the General Election in November.”

In October 2018, the County of Union awarded a contract to Election Systems & Software, LLC (ES&S) of Omaha, Nebraska to provide a new voting tabulation system for the County. The new voting machine, ExpressVote XL, marries a touch screen ballot marking device with a voter verified paper audit trail, allowing the voter to review their voting choices to ensure their vote is accurately recorded.

The voter verified audit trail also provides a paper record of the election which can be used for recounts and will be used for audits.

The initial award was for $1.9 million, and the total award will be $4.85 million, which includes new voting machines for the entire county, vote by mail, provisional ballot and audit trail tabulators, software, hardware and software maintenance and training.

The Election Board continues a proactive outreach campaign to train voters and poll workers on the new machine before Election Day.

The Election Board will be conducting weekly demonstrations at two locations starting immediately and continuing through the weekend before the General Election at the following locations, excluding holiday closures:

Colleen Fraser Building
300 North Avenue East, Westfield
Saturdays 9:00am – 1:00pm

Union County Courthouse
2 Broad Street, 1st Floor, Elizabeth
Tuesdays, 11:00am – 3:00pm

The Election Board is also confirmed to present public demonstrations at the following community events:

July 10 – Union County Summer Arts Festival, Echo Lake Park, Mountainside

July 24 – Union County Summer Arts Festival, Echo Lake Park, Mountainside

July 31 – Union County Concerts in the Park, Echo Lake Park, Mountainside

August 6 – Union County’s National Night Out, Meisel Park, Springfield: 6:00pm

August 7 – Union County Summer Arts Festival, Oak Ridge Park, Clark

August 14 – Union County Summer Arts Festival, Oak Ridge Park, Clark

August 15 –     Linden Community Center, 1025 John Street: 6:30 – 8:30pm

August 21 – Union County Summer Arts Festival, Oak Ridge Park, Clark

August 28 – Union County Summer Arts Festival, Oak Ridge Park, Clark

September 11 – Cranford Town Hall, 8 Springfield Avenue: 12:00pm – 3:00pm

September 24 – Clark Municipal Building, 430 Westfield Avenue: 11:00am -3:00pm

October 25 – Union County Mounted Troop Horse Show – Watchung Stables: 4:00 – 8:00pm

October 26 – Union County Mounted Troop Horse Show – Watchung Stables: 8:00am – 2:00pm

November 1- Union County Pumpkin Sail – Echo Lake Park, Mountainside

The schedule will be updated on the Elections Board website at ucnj.org/ucboe as events are added.

Please contact the Union County Election Board to schedule a demonstration for your community group by calling 908-527-4123 or emailing ndirado@ucnj.org.

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

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