x
Breaking News
More () »

North Carolina approves changes to new voting machines to avoid feared shortage

Elections Systems and Software told the State Board of Elections it had only one-sixth of the equipment that was being ordered.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The State Board of Elections has voted 3-2 to allow Elections Systems and Software (ES&S) to make modifications to its voting machines in order to fill orders for new equipment from Mecklenburg County and other counties across North Carolina.

The company warned last month it didn’t have sufficient inventory to fill orders.

"The day before Thanksgiving we got an email that ES&S was not going to be able to supply the counties that they had orders for," said Mecklenburg County Elections Director Michael Dickerson.

RELATED: New voting machines pass the test in Mecklenburg County

In fact, what ES&S told the State Board of Elections was that it had only one-sixth of the equipment that was being ordered. 

The company asked the state to approve a modification to new models of its machines that would then allow them to fill all the orders placed.

However, that would mean the modified machines would not have been subjected to longer more comprehensive testing prior to being used in next year’s elections.

Noting that North Carolina’s primary is coming up on March 3, Dickerson said, "I need to have a plan in place with what somebody can do. Things are getting tight."

RELATED: York County shows off 'safe' voting machines

During a special meeting of the Board of Elections, the board by a one-vote margin agreed to allow ES&S to make the modification and avoid any lengthy testing.

WCNC has a new app. Click here to download it

TRENDING ON WCNC.COM

Free Firehouse Subs today if your name is Jason, Crystal or Richard

Dale Earnhardt Jr. helps clean up abandoned North Wilkesboro Speedway

She went missing 7 years ago. Her remains were found in the woods in Concord.

Before You Leave, Check This Out