Middlesex County says ES&S router setting reduced poll-book data drops; staff will monitor primary

County elections staff reported that tests with Election Systems & Software (ES&S) and a state-identified router setting have reduced the poll-book data-drop problems the county experienced in the general election.

A staff speaker told the board that ES&S, state personnel and local IT reviewed performance and identified a router setting tested during recent smaller elections. "We didn't encounter any of those issues during, again, all the smaller elections," the staff member said. Staff cautioned the setting is not yet a permanent solution and that the county will watch how the primary and future elections perform before declaring the problem solved.

Staff said the router setting has been used in other counties including Monmouth County and that county and state stakeholders are coordinating on monitoring. The board discussed post-election follow-up with poll clerks in high-turnout districts to solicit feedback.

The meeting also included administrative updates: staff welcomed a newly hired elections employee, Lisa Byrne, who will work in the main office; staff described a reorganization of the pull-book room to streamline equipment checks; and staff announced walk-up training for poll workers in Piscataway ahead of upcoming elections.

Officials said they have received poll-worker lists from municipalities and are preparing summaries of outstanding assignments. No new numerical totals for outstanding poll-worker slots or party-change forms were confirmed during the meeting.

Board members and staff emphasized continued monitoring and direct outreach to high-activity polling places during the primary.