Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has told all 67 counties that they must have new voting machines in place in time for the 2020 elections. Some counties are now questioning the need, the timing and the expense of the effort.
Doug Hill with the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania says this is an expensive demand from the governor.
Hill estimates it will cost about $10 for every man, woman and child in Pennsylvania, which will add up to more than $100 million.
“At this point, it is an un-funded mandate,” he said. “If we can’t find funding from other sources, it would have to come from the county level or a property tax.”
Some counties say it’s unnecessary and others question why voting machines are being targeted, when there’s no proof of any hacking or tampering in PA’s elections. Governor Wolf says he wants new machines that provide a paper trail for every vote.