Skip to content
Sections
  • Obituaries
  • eEdition
  • Popular Content
  • Submit a Tip
Dispatch Mobile Logo
Share
Subscribe
Login
August 8, 2022
  • QUICK LINKS
  • Obituaries
  • eEdition
  • Popular Content
  • Submit a Tip
  • News
  • Columbus & Lowndes County
  • Starkville & Oktibbeha County
  • West Point & Clay County
  • Area
  • State
  • National
  • Business
  • Sports
  • High School Sports
  • College Sports
  • Local Columns
  • eEdition
  • Opinions
  • Local Columns
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Roses & Thorns
  • Dispatch Editorials
  • Obituaries
  • Lifestyles
  • Columns
  • Entertainment
  • Food
  • Transitions & Announcements
  • Community
  • Religion
  • Classifieds
  • Photo Galleries
  • Public Records
  • Building Permits
  • Marriages & Divorces
August 8, 2022
Dispatch Logo

Open eyes, open minds.

Home » News » Columbus & Lowndes County » Lowndes elections to return to paper ballots

Lowndes elections to return to paper ballots

By Zack Plair • March 18, 2020

 • 3 mins to read

Lowndes elections to return to paper ballots
Bill Lowe, account representative with Election Systems and Software, demonstrates a machine that will process and record paper ballots during a special-call Lowndes County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday. The county plans to return to a paper ballot voting system but will use the touchscreen system for November's general election. Photo by: Zack Plair/Dispatch Staff

It appears Lowndes County elections will return to paper ballots but not in time for November.

The board of supervisors, in a special-call meeting Tuesday, authorized Circuit Clerk Teresa Barksdale to pursue an agreement with Election Systems and Software (ES&S) that would replace the current touchscreen voting machines with units that would process and record paper ballots at polling locations.

“We would like to (have the new system in place) by the general election, but I’m not sure we could implement it by then,” Barksdale told supervisors.

With the new system, voters will mark a paper ballot at their polling location and feed it into the new machines on-site. The machine will scan a PDF of the ballot, record and tabulate the votes on a flash drive, then store the hard copies of the ballots in a locked compartment inside, which will make it easier to conduct a recount if necessary. The system would also allow the county to print extra ballots on demand if election day turnout exceeds expectations.

ES&S quoted the county a one-time price of $250,422.50 for 30 machines, including software and services, with an additional $21,370 annually for maintenance and support fees.

Barksdale said the county would use an estimated $200,000 Help America Vote Act money available through the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office to pay for most of the upgrade. The remainder would come from the circuit clerk’s annual budget for elections, which she said could cover as much as $100,000 of the equipment cost.

Also, ES&S will pay the county $18,700 ($100 each for 187 touchscreen machines), to trade in the old equipment.

newsletter

The Dispatch delivers the most in-depth, responsible journalism straight to your inbox. Sign up here.

Bill Lowe, an ES&S account representative demonstrating the new election equipment Tuesday, said 12 Mississippi counties had already transitioned to the paper ballot system, with seven others — including Oktibbeha — poised to do so by November’s general election for President, U.S. House and Senate races. Given the size of those counties, mostly the larger ones in the state, that makes up about 50 percent of the voters, he said.

That matches a national trend, Lowe said, where an increasing number of states are returning to paper ballots.

“The current (touchscreen) system works great, but we’re just seeing a trend of voters having more confidence marking their own (paper) ballot,” he said.

Moreover, Lowndes County bought its current voting machines in 2005 and 2006. New touchscreen machines are becoming less available due to the trend back to paper, so the county needed to replace the obsolete equipment sooner than later, Deputy Circuit Clerk for Elections Pat Stanley said.

Still, Stanley said the old machines would be used in the general election to ensure she and the election commissioners had enough time to properly train poll workers on the new system.

“November is a very important election,” Stanley told supervisors. “To spring this on our voters, to spring this on our poll workers, would be a little much.”

Zack Plair is the managing editor for The Dispatch.

elections Lowndes paper ballots

You can help your community

Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.

Subscribe

READER FAVORITES

  • Man sentenced to 40 years for Propst Park killing

    By Jessica Lindsey • 1 day ago

  • Community rallies around beloved waitress following house fire

    By Robert Scott • 1 day ago

Related Photos

Theresa Barksdale

Popular

Two Lowndes men charged with child sex crimes

August 6, 2022

Man sentenced to 40 years for Propst Park killing

August 6, 2022

Community rallies around beloved waitress following house fire

August 6, 2022

Golden Triangle Theatre finds new home at old church

August 6, 2022




On This Day 2021

Bulldogs feeling acclimated as fall camp begins

By Theo DeRosa

Featured Podcast

The C Dispatch Podcast

Dispatch

Sections

  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Lifestyles
  • Obituaries

Info

  • About
  • Contact
  • Submit a Tip
  • Terms & Service
  • Popular Content

Contact

Main Switchboard:

(662) 328-2424

Physical Address:

516 Main Street
Columbus, MS 39701

Mailing Address:

PO Box 511
Columbus, MS 39701

cdispatch.com © 2022 – The Commerical Dispatch

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT