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District weighs paper ballots, free county machines and new‑machine purchase after Suffolk County BOE changes
Summary
The district reviewed three options after Suffolk County Board of Elections said it will not share new machines: accept older county machines (free, but requires maintenance contract), buy new machines (high upfront + maintenance costs), or use paper ballots (district staff estimated net savings on some lines). The board deferred an immediate decision and agreed to community outreach if paper ballots are used.
District clerk Marco Laube (speaker 12) told the board that on Oct. 7 the Suffolk County Board of Elections notified districts it will no longer share new voting machines for local elections. The county offered three options: 1) accept the county’s older machines at no charge but purchase an annual maintenance contract (district received a quote of $12,481 for two machines and vendor support); 2) purchase two new machines (quotes between about $25,500 and $34,000 plus annual maintenance of $8,000–$11,000); or 3) revert to paper ballots for budget votes and board elections, which staff estimated could reduce certain line items on the district ballot budget (paper ballots would eliminate machine‑rental and special ballot costs but add staff hours for counting).
Laube said the district is on a waiting list for two free machines and recommended keeping that option open while preparing for paper ballots as the operational fallback. He recommended paper ballots as a practical option for 2026 if the county does not make machines available; the district could later purchase machines if paper ballots proved unwieldy. Board members asked about quality assurance if the district counts paper ballots; Laube described a checks‑and‑balances approach with two teams and oversight by the sworn district clerk and noted the district could pay Board of Elections staff to assist if needed.
No final vote was taken. The board agreed to hold a potential decision, keep the district on the waiting list for free machines, and to prepare community notification and counting procedures in case the board uses paper ballots. A board member offered to draft a letter to the county executive and board of elections requesting clarification and reconsideration; the chair said he would circulate that draft to members.
What happens next: the district will remain on the county’s waiting list, evaluate the condition of any free machines if offered, finalize contingency procedures for paper‑ballot counting, and communicate the chosen method to voters well before any scheduled budget vote.
