It's only June, but the village of Bellevue is already preparing for the 2026 elections. Last week, the village board accepted a resolution supporting the purchase of new voter tabulator machines. June 3, 2025. PC: Fox 11 Online
BELLEVUE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — It’s only June, but the village of Bellevue is already preparing for the 2026 elections.
Last week, the village board accepted a resolution supporting the purchase of new voter tabulator machines.
The village said it’s time to get new machines to ensure their elections stay safe and secure with the latest technology.
Bellevue’s current voter tabulator machines are 12 years old. The typical lifespan is 10.
The village said getting these new machines is an absolute must for the integrity of their elections.
“As technology gets better, we want to take advantage of that and make sure that it continues to be accurate, and work the way that we need it to work,” Village of Bellevue Finance/Clerk-Treasurer Director Michelle Seidl said.
They’re looking at upgrading from four to 10 machines by February 2026, with a price tag of around $100,000 total.
Seidl said they’ve had a good experience with the old machines, minus the occasional ballot jam. But they need to stay up-to-date to avoid any possible failures that could impact an election.
“Between the movement all of the time and the transporting and the usage, we want to make sure that we uphold the elections we are supposed to,” Seidl said.
She hopes the new machines will allow for an overall faster voter experience.
Cybersecurity experts say it’s important for municipalities to stay ahead of the curve and consistently have voting machines upgraded to avoid bad actors.
“Like any type of device that we’re seeing with computers on a regular basis, they need to be replaced, and a big reason for that is security,” said Curt Esser, owner of Esser Consulting, LLC.
Esser said his biggest concern for voting machines is if they’re connected to the internet, making them more vulnerable to hackers looking to interfere in an election. However, in Bellevue, voter tabulators are not connected to the internet.
Still, Esser warns even devices not connected to the web could be at risk, and it’s key for municipalities to have their guards up.
“These machines, it is possible that they could be altered. Now, I don’t think they have been, but let’s test them and make sure,” Esser said.
Over the last 12 years, the cybersecurity landscape has changed dramatically, especially with the use of artificial intelligence. Esser recommends voting machines be audited, verified, tested and updated to avoid possible problems.
It’s unclear how Bellevue’s new tabulators will be funded. The Brown County Board of Supervisors will take up the resolution at its meeting June 18.
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