Rep. McClain Votes to Provide Funding for Updated Voting Equipment throughout Ohio

COLUMBUS—State Representative Riordan McClain (R-Upper Sandusky) today announced that the Ohio House has passed legislation to provide funding to assist counties in upgrading their outdated voting equipment. Members of the Ohio House today favorably passed 28 bills that impact constituents of the 87th House District, ensuring that the House is committed to getting back to work and focused on meaningful legislation.

Senate Bill 135 will allocate $114.5 million to counties—via a fixed amount based on the number of registered voters in each county—to help with the startup costs associated with purchasing new machines. These funds will help counties replace elections equipment that is more than ten years old, as most of Ohio’s machines were purchased in 2005 and 2006.

The funding break down for counties is as follows:

• Counties with 0-19,000 registered voters will be given a base amount of $205,000
• Counties with 20,000-99,999 registered voters will be given a base amount of $250,000
• Counties with 100,000+ registered voters will be given $406,000
• The remaining funds will then be proportionally distributed on a per registered voter basis

“The passage of Senate Bill 135 is good for Ohio voters as well as local governments across the state,” said McClain. “As technology advances we need to leverage its efficiency to improve the voting process and to guarantee the security of our votes. Funding improved machines will allow us to take the next step forward. Local governments have been stretched thin and this funding should relieve the stress of upgrading voting equipment by providing most, if not all, of the funds to do so.”

Of this funding, $10 million will be general revenue funding for reimbursement of counties which have already purchased new machines, an appropriation that must be approved through the Controlling Board. The remaining funds will then be used to help counties that will be purchasing machines in the near future.

Senate Bill 135 also requires the establishment of a bipartisan advisory committee tasked with providing input throughout the process. Steps will be made throughout the entire process to ensure transparency.

As amended in the House Finance Committee, Senate Bill 135 will now go back to the Senate for concurrence.