BORDENTOWN: Voting machine storage draws query

By Stephanie Prokop, Staff Writer
BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP —With record numbers of voters expected this year, one candidate raised concerns last week over unattended machines in area polling places.
    According to Democratic candidate for Bordentown Township Committee Stephen Monson, several voting machines had been left out in the Bordentown Senior Center in what he considered to be “unguarded and unprotected” areas.
    “The four machines were set out in the hallway and were covered in plastic,” said Mr. Monson.
    Alarmed by the thought of people possibly tampering with the machines, Mr. Monson said he immediately called the Burlington County Board of Elections superintendent and expressed his concern.
    "As a voter, I see these machines sitting out. And I know that generally that folks aren’t into computer tampering, but the fact is that the building is open, and there are classes going on in the building," he said.
    Burlington County Superintendent Joanne Nyikita said Monday the machines are put out about a week early and are secured with security tape.
    “We can tell upon opening up the machines if a voting machine has been tampered with, and if anyone does tamper with them, we will have them replaced,” she said.
    Ms. Nyikita insisted that the machines are secure, and that they are never unsupervised. 
    “We have about 500 machines that we have to deliver throughout Burlington County,” she said Monday. “We have to get them out beforehand otherwise we would be jammed at the last minute,” she added.
    After the election, voting machines would to be collected within the week after Election Day, she added.
    The voting machines are kept in a warehouse in Lumberton when not in use, said Ms. Nyikita.