Morris County NJ voters face delays on Election Day
Morris County spent nearly $5million this year to replace its 20 years-old voting machines. However, some of the machines being rolled out to local precincts in time for Election Day are failing, poll workers claim. Meanwhile, another town is struggling with a large turnout due to having half the number of voting devices they received in the past.
Chester Township Council President Michael Inganamort was on the ballot for mayor this year. He said he was “concerned about the waiting times of more that 90 minutes for District 2/3 voting this morning at Town Hall.
He blamed the delay on the fact that each of the five voting districts received one machine from the township, instead of the usual 2. He said that the lines were less crowded after lunch but that they would be back “after the whistle blows at five o’clock.”
Elsewhere in Morris County, printer problems appeared persistent on three of five voting machines at Dennis O’Brien School in Rockaway Township. Staff were seen pressing on the printers to obtain long ballot receipts. They claimed that it was happening throughout the county.
Live updates on Election DayLengthy Rockaway ballots jamming voting machines
Multiple calls to the Morris County Board of Elections for information about printer problems or shortages in other towns were not answered by them.
Boonton voters experienced similar printer issues with the new machines but they appeared resolved before 9 a.m. One person who couldn’t wait said she was able to cast a provisional ballot.
The Morris County Commissioner Board in late 2021 authorized the purchase of 134 ES&S machines at a cost of $4.9 million. However, the delay in authorizing funds meant that only a partial delivery was made before the June primary. This forced some of the Dominion machines to be re-used.
Thomas “Ace” Gallagher of Hanover, Deputy Mayor, is running unopposed to be reelected to the Township Committee. Gallagher said that Hanover’s districts also had problems with paper jams, but that the county was “very responsive” to these issues and had technicians on-site to resolve them.
William Westhoven is a local reporter for DailyRecord.com. Get unlimited access to the latest news from your community Please subscribe to or activate your digital account now.
Email: wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com
Twitter: @wwesthoven
