Some of the city’s antiquated mechanical voting machines — replaced by electronic devices two years ago — could stage a comeback as high-tech voter-information portals.
Board of Elections officials yesterday demonstrated the prototype of a digital voter check-in device housed in the shell of an old metal voting machine.
The device comes with a touch screen that allows voters to determine their election districts, bypassing the endless lines that develop when that information has to be looked up manually on Election Day.
The kiosks would also instantly transmit results after the polls close.
The only catch: it would cost $15 million to $20 million to develop the 2,500 kiosks required to have two at each polling site.
Board officials will make a pitch for the money today at a City Council budget hearing. If approved, a pilot program with 100 kiosks would roll out early next year.