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CEC allocates $40K to pay ballot company
In this August 2016 file photo, Election Systems and Software senior field service technician William McCullough services one of five Commonwealth Election Commission counting machines at the Pedro Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe. (Ferdie de la Torre)
The Commonwealth Election Commission is paying a Nebraska company $40,000 in total for the printing of ballots as well as to service its five tabulating machines in the CNMI, according to CEC administrative officer Kayla Igitol.
Igitol said the payment for Election Systems and Software includes ballot coding, layout of ballots, printing of ballots, and shipping of ballots.
She said ESS will also send a person to the CNMI to provide support and will stay during the tabulation of the ballots for the Nov. 6 election.
As of last week, there were over 18,200 registered voters in the CNMI. CEC has estimated the need to print 22,000 ballots.
CEC executive director Julita Villagomez earlier stated that, days before the election, ESS will be sending a technician to service the counting machines.
Villagomez said the technician will normally just clean the machines and change the rubber parts.
CEC reportedly has not encountered problems with the five tabulating machines since they were purchased in 2003.
Villagomez said the machines that were purchased from ESS are very accurate and fast in tabulating ballots.
