We found bad news and good. First, the bad: The problem of aging voting technology reaches nearly every corner of the United States. Unlike voting machines used in past eras, today’s systems were not designed to last for decades. In part this is due to the pace of technological change. No one expects a laptop to last 10 years. And although today’s machines debuted at the beginning of this century, many were designed and engineered in the 1990s.

Even worse, while many jurisdictions acknowledge that their machines need to be replaced, they haven’t sorted out who should pay for it. Counties often argue the states should pay, while many states argue this has always been a local responsibility. In many cases, both hold out hope that they can get some federal support, but that seems very unlikely. “Some jurisdictions seem to be saying we’re just going to wait until another catastrophe and then maybe Congress will pay for it,” Tammy Patrick, a senior adviser with the Bipartisan Policy Center, told us. “This is not a good plan.”

On the other hand, the PCEA’s report spurred conversations, and in many cases, spending on new equipment. Several counties and states will have new machines before the 2016 election, and some counties are even developing their own voting systems, which offer the hope of technology that is designed around the needs of voters.

Nevertheless, the crisis has not abated. In 2016, a majority of election jurisdictions will use machines that are approaching the end of their lifespans. That means that states and counties must develop contingency plans in case of machine failures—both to reduce the possibility of long lines, and ensure that all votes are counted. Looking beyond 2016, they must find money for new equipment. Today, far too many election jurisdictions don’t know where the money for new machines will come from.

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While it is impossible to say how long any particular machine will last, experts agree that for machines purchased since 2000, the expected lifespan for the core components of electronic voting machines is generally between 10 and 15 years. The majority of machines in use in the United States are perilously close to or exceed these estimates. In 43 states, the oldest machines will be at least 10 years old next November. In 14 states they will be more than 15 years old.

Machines 10 or More Years Old in 2016

Brennan Center for Justice

Election officials are increasingly vocal about the need for new equipment. But funders at the state and county level have not necessarily been responsive. Election jurisdictions in at least 31 states want to purchase and deploy new voting machines in the next five years. Officials from 22 states said they do not know where they would get the money to pay for new machines.

States With Jurisdictions Looking for New Machines

Brennan Center for Justice

As machines age, problems will only grow worse as breakdowns become more common. “We know that a lot of machines were breaking in the 2012 election,” noted Barbara Simons, an electronic voting expert and past president of the Association for Computing Machinery. “It’s not that it’s an impending crisis. The crisis is already here.”