Lawmakers appeared pleased with the selection, although some advocates have argued for paper ballots instead.
During the Department of Elections’ budget hearing, Jennifer Hill, a lobbyist for the good government group Common Cause Delaware, objected to the purchase, noting the department has asked for another $5 million over the next four years for the machines.
However, Ms. Manlove disputed the claim that the price tag is much bigger than anticipated, saying the costs for maintenance and the software license should only total about $100,000 a year more than the state currently pays.
