Bergen County voters who cast ballots in November can expect some changes Tuesday when they head to the polls for the primaries.
Some changes have been made to streamline the voting process and resolve issues that occurred in the last general election following the implementation of the new voting machines.
Last November marked Bergen County’s first major election, using new Dominion voting machines purchased last year.
The Bergen County Board of Commissioners approved a $15 million bond ordinance to pay for the 1,200 ballots and 650 ballots to replace 30-year-old machines.
Lack of training, unfamiliarity with new equipment and problems with basic equipment, such as paper jams, led to long wait times and delays in results.
What has changed in voting in Bergen County?
There are still three steps in the voting process: check in at the e-poll pad, make a selection on the ballot marking machine, then print your ballot, take it to the scanner and cast your vote.
Voters were also required to bring a voter authorization card with them in November, but that step has been discontinued. The change has streamlined the check-in process to an average of 39 seconds, said Superintendent of Elections Debra Francica.
The cards were previously given to voters after a poll worker programmed them at the polling place. Now, after voters register at a polling place, they present their voting authorization form to a poll worker who activates the voting machine for each voter.
To prevent printing disruptions, signs in three languages have been placed on the voting machines in the voting booths with the text “Wait for the green check mark before voting.”
The sign has already deterred voters from casting ballots prematurely, Francica said. No paper jams were reported during early voting, which saw nearly 6,000 voters cast ballots.
More: Our guide to New Jersey’s 2024 elections for President, Senate and Congress
Other minor changes included strengthening the paper trays in the polling booths so poll workers could easily refill paper. Tight-fitting plugs were also placed on all machine plugs so that none could come loose during the day and the machines could be unplugged.
“It was a great success,” Francica said. “We learned what wasn’t working and fixed it.”
More voting machines have also been added at some locations during early voting. Most had at least eight machines, up from five last year, while Teaneck, Paramus and Fort Lee had 12 to 15 machines. More machines in busier polling places helped eliminate wait times.
The changes also worked during smaller elections, such as the school board races in April and a municipal race in May.
New videos have been created, also in three languages, to show everyone how to vote before going to the polls.
Francica said credit also goes to the poll workers and city clerks for their great work.
“We figured out what went wrong and turned those lemons into lemonade,” Francica said.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Bergen County NJ changes voting process for 2024 primaries
