NORWICH – The Chenango County Board of Elections’ estimated budget for 2007 is 45 percent more than last year, due largely to a federal act requiring states to purchase new, handicapped-accessible voting machines.

Commissioners Harriet Jenkins and Carol Franklin told members of the Safety & Rules Committee last week that election expenses and repayments to towns for training plus equipment, supplies and materials pushed the budget up to nearly $250,000 for next year.

The figure does not include the cost of storing the machines once they arrive, however. County officials still are undecided on this aspect of the Help America Vote Act of 2002. HAVA requires states to certify and purchase universal, handicapped accessible voting machines and transfers local level voting responsibilities to counties. The mandate includes storing and maintaining the new machines as well as budgeting and paying for personnel.