Maricopa County will implement new voting equipment and procedures in all polling locations in time for the Democratic presidential preference vote March 17 and the Nov. 3 general election.

The new equipment – ballot tabulators and accessibility improvements – cost about $6.1 million in total and will replace equipment that has been in use since 1996, according to Erika Flores, deputy director of communications for elections in Maricopa County.

The county also is dropping arrows in favor of ovals for voters to fill in next to candidate names and ballot questions.

The changes were a result of Senate Bill 1135, which took effect Feb. 3 with the signature of Gov. Doug Ducey.

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