Voting system components stolen from Atlanta election site

This May 22, 2018, file photo, shows a voter access card inserted in a reader during voting in the Georgia primary in Kennesaw, Ga. A federal judge is set to hear arguments, Thursday, July 25, 2019, in a lawsuit challenging Georgia's outdated voting machines and seeking statewide use of hand-marked paper ballots. The hearing will focus on requests for the judge to order the state to immediately stop using the current voting machines. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)
This May 22, 2018, file photo, shows a voter access card inserted in a reader during voting in the Georgia primary in Kennesaw, Ga. A federal judge is set to hear arguments, Thursday, July 25, 2019, in a lawsuit challenging Georgia's outdated voting machines and seeking statewide use of hand-marked paper ballots. The hearing will focus on requests for the judge to order the state to immediately stop using the current voting machines. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)

ATLANTA (AP) - Two machines used to check voters into their voting location as part of Georgia's election system have been stolen from an Atlanta precinct.

The theft occurred overnight, just hours before local elections began Tuesday.

Secretary of State spokeswoman Tess Hammock says Fulton County and Atlanta police are investigating the break-in at Grove Park Recreation Center. Hammock says replacement machines were deployed and the election wasn't affected.

The machines, called express polls, contain voter names, addresses, dates of birth, and driver's license numbers. They are password protected.

State officials are in the process of replacing Georgia's current outdated voting machines and aim to have the new system ready by March.

Hammock said the new system will give officials the ability to "track individual units, encrypt data, and better secure voter information."

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