Amateur radio operators were handling all communications between the Mercer County elections board and a polling precinct in rural French Creek Township

Elections Director Jeff Greenburg says the radio operators were called in because the precinct does not have a landline phone and cell service in the area is spotty at best.  The radio operators are set up to communicate any problems back to the board.

"So if they were having any machine issues they would be calling the technician to come to the precinct to address the machine issue. Or questions about whether somebody is registered or where they should be voting they would use the amateur radio guy to communicate with the court house," Greenburg said.

Paul Kranich with the Amateur Radio Club says the system is fairly easy to set up.  "Just a power supply, a VHF amateur radio and we have an antenna outside,".

Greenburg says the use of radio transmissions could be a valuable test for the county. "One of the things we had never done before is test our counties emergency capabilities when it comes to loss of communications,"  according to Greenburg.  
So far it seemed to be a viable option.