Ohio elections chief sets safeguards

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner said Tuesday that poll workers may not take voting machines home with them the night before the election.

Brunner, a Democrat, has also implemented a new state law requiring bipartisan teams to handle and transport ballots, the Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch reported.

"We want Ohio's voters and the rest of the nation to see that we have prepared a transparent process of transporting voting equipment, ballots and supplies," Brunner said. "That begins with security practices at boards of elections and polling places, documented chain of custody, and now procedures to make secure voting machine delivery."

She also told county officials that they must help ensure safe delivery of voting equipment by storing machines in the proper humidity to help ensure accuracy.

The secretary of state is offering to reimburse counties for their added costs with federal funds.

Aaron Ockerman, a lobbyist for the Ohio Association of Elections Officials, said some county officials say the directive means more work for them.

"As long as there is enough flexibility, we can make it work," he said.