Putnam Commission Approves Purchase Of New Voting Machines

95 new election machines on the way to Putnam County after the county commission approved the purchased.

Election Administrator Michelle Honeycutt said the gear will have a new paper trail that audits a voter’s selection.

“There will be a tape in the back of the machine that you will see in a locked box, and it will print out your selections on that tape,” Honeycutt said. “You have to look at that, make sure it is what you wanted and then confirm it.”

Honeycutt said a state law passed earlier this year required every county to implement the paper trail. Honeycutt said the purchase will be reimbursed by the state.

Honeycutt said the voting experience will be about the same with a few extra steps to confirm your ballot. If you made a mistake, Honeycutt said you can go back and change your vote.

Honeycutt said five different companies were approved to sell in Tennessee. Honeycutt said the new voting machines are from the same company as the previous machines.

Honeycutt said the new machines will not be delivered until later next year.