MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Recently the state of Michigan authorized $5 million to reimburse communities around the state for purchasing new election equipment.

Township Clerk Brett Dreyfus spoke with State Representative Sam Singh (D) who said that Meridian Township will be getting a small portion of the $5 million reimbursement, but election equipment is expensive, so the State will will be looking for an additional $10 million since the $5 million alone will not be enough.

Clerk Dreyfus also said it's great news and he's looking forward to having new election equipment to work with.

Not every community will get a chance to use the new equipment right away, as of now it will only be tested at pilot sites.

For next year's election Clerk Dreyfus said, "I made a decision that Meridian Township is not going to volunteer as a plot site for the 2016 election. Let's have a smooth election, we can use the quint that we know works well and in 2017 we'll come aboard and we'll start to use new election equipment."

Clerk Dreyfus estimated Meridian Township will receive 20 new tabulators and 20 new machines that will assist people with disabilities.