Voting machines set up in 2023. (Provided by Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections)
COLUMBIA — All of South Carolina’s ballot-counting machines are being replaced with new, faster versions ahead of the November elections.
The State Election Commission on Tuesday announced the purchase of 3,240 updated ballot scanners . The new scanners are slightly smaller than the ones used since 2020 but otherwise look the same and are made by the same company. However, they’ll start up, scan and upload results significantly faster, according to the agency.
“This upgrade reflects our commitment to providing a secure, accurate, and transparent voting process that is accessible to all eligible voters,” Howie Knapp, executive director of the Election Commission, said in a news release.
The total cost of the new scanners is about $29 million, paid for through a program of the state treasurer’s office that provides low-cost financing to upgrade state agencies’ equipment.