Marinette County could spend up to a quarter of a million dollars to upgrade voting machines. County Clerk Kathy Brandt reports that while the existing touch-screen machines may still have several years of usable life in them, they aren’t capable of processing absentee ballots and that’s something municipalities are seeing- and will likely continue to see- a major influx of. In fact, more than 6000 Marinette County residents have already requested their absentee ballots for November’s election.

The new machines run about $10000 apiece and maintenance will likely cost another $1200. Brandt says that has the County trying to economize the purchase.

Around $250000 for the voting machines purchase has been built in to the upcoming fiscal year’s budget. If that budget is ultimately approved, Brandt hopes to have the new machines in operation by 2022.