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Resident urges Medina County to reassess voting‑machine costs; commissioners note certification and procurement are set by the state
Summary
A resident asked the county to review voting‑machine costs and consider hand counts; commissioners said the county pays for machines but that state and the local board of elections determine certification and equipment selection, and urged state responsibility for unfunded mandates.
A Medina County resident told commissioners that counties face rising costs to buy and maintain voting machines and urged the board to consider hand‑count ballots as an alternative.
In public comment, Guy Hicks of Sharon Township said he represented a group concerned about equipment costs and possible decertification of some machines, and urged the county to "take a closer look at the manual hand county ballots as an alternative." Hicks cited examples from other counties and suggested counties could save money over time by returning to hand‑count procedures.
Commissioners answered that counties generally pay the cost of local election equipment and administration but do not set statewide certification standards. A commissioner explained that the secretary of state and an approval committee determine which voting systems are certified for use and that local boards of elections recommend machines; county commissioners pay the bills. Commissioners said the combination of state directives and certification requirements has increased local costs and that the County Commissioners Association of Ohio has urged the state to assume funding responsibility for equipment mandated at the state level.
No policy change or vote was made during the meeting. Commissioners encouraged residents to raise concerns with the local board of elections and the secretary of state if they want standards or funding shifted.
