GREENVILLE — The new director of the Darke County Board of Elections was sworn in Tuesday following a reorganizational meeting of the board.
The board unanimously voted to appoint Paul Schlecty of New Weston to a two-year term as director. He replaces former Director Luke Burton, who resigned in December to become elections director in Licking County.
Schlecty studied business management at Wright State University and has a background in information technology.
“I’m very, very excited,” he said. “I’m looking forward to working with the board of elections.”
The new director comes in at an opportune time, with the board making preparations to acquire new voting machines for the county.
The selected model, manufactured by ExpressVote, incorporates a hybrid electronic and paper ballot system. Using this system, voters use a touchscreen to make their selections then review a printed paper ballot which they will turn in to have their votes tallied.
A $650,000 grant from the state will cover most of the purchase price for the machines and support software. The board will request approximately $65,000 from the county to cover the remaining cost. Darke County’s current voting machines have been in service for almost 14 years. The board said it hopes to have the new machines in place this November.
During the reorganizational meeting, Board Member Dave Niley was selected as board chairman.
Following the meeting, Schlecty, new Board Member Amy Erisman and returning Board Member Jim Detling were sworn in by Darke County Probate Court Judge Jason Aslinger.
