Voting precincts in Butler County will have backup scanners for the 2020 elections.

At their Wednesday meeting, the county commissioners ratified the purchase of additional scanners to augment the new voting system.

Leslie Osche, commissioners chairwoman, said the county wants to have backup scanners on hand in case a precinct's scanner doesn't work.

She said a few scanners did not operate properly in the November election, and having extras will alleviate the issue in the 2020 elections.

Osche said an additional scanner was purchased for the elections bureau office to handle absentee and mail ballots.

“We anticipate a much higher volume of absentees (in the next election),” Osche said.

Shari Brewer, elections bureau director, said according to new state law, voters who cannot get to the polls still must apply for an absentee ballot, but any voter can apply for a mail ballot that allows them to vote at home and send their ballot in to the elections bureau.

“Now, basically anyone can apply for a mail ballot,” Brewer said.

The commissioners announced that the county will apply for a federal grant from the Department of State to help cover the $1,142,170 cost of buying a new voting system. The grant, if received, would cover up to 60 percent of that cost. The county bought the new paper ballot system in May. The state required all counties to have a voting system in place by 2020 that includes a paper record of each vote.

Commissioner Kevin Boozel commended the elections bureau for having the system in place for last month's election, so voters could get accustomed to them before the presidential election next year.