The Bow Board of Selectmen voted to purchase VotingWorks ballot tabulators after presentations and a recommendation from the town moderator and town clerk. Town officials emphasized that the devices are ballot tabulators — scanners that count marks on paper ballots — and do not replace paper ballots or introduce machine-based casting.

Town Moderator and staff said the town reviewed two approved tabulator models for New Hampshire and found the VotingWorks product to better meet local needs. Officials said the state will provide a 50 percent credit toward the purchase and that the state pays that reimbursement directly to the vendor. The board had previously set aside funds for the purchase and approved the recommendation by motion and a unanimous vote.

Officials described operational benefits, including that both systems create a digital image of each ballot; VotingWorks offers an interface that shows all ballots with write-in entries on a laptop screen so moderators can review images instead of pulling paper ballots. Selectmen discussed programming and operational differences and confirmed both vendors meet state and federal standards and that the state reimbursement applies to either option.