ORANGE — The town has been approved for a five-figure grant to help ensure a reliable and secure election season.

Town Clerk Nancy Blackmer explained Orange will use the $20,000 it received from the Center for Tech and Civic Life to buy equipment to help her office run more efficiently and to upgrade the office’s computers and the security at the polling location. She said she received an email from the center — a nonprofit made up of civic technologists, trainers, researchers, election administration and data experts — and applied for the grant after learning the town qualified.

“Until Congress approves regular, ongoing federal funding to help offset the cost of running federal elections, this grant will help make the 2024 elections more reliable and secure for Orange voters so that all voters can trust the election process and be confident their vote is counted,” Blackmer said in a statement.

She said Orange received a roughly $5,000 grant from the same organization in 2020.

The Massachusetts primary election is slated for Sept. 3. The final day to register to vote in it is Aug. 24. The final day to request a ballot be mailed to you for the primary is Aug. 26. The general election will be held on Nov. 5.

Blackmer, who has been town clerk since January 2000, said voter turnout varies greatly depending on the election. She said primaries tend to bring in few voters.

“I anticipate November will be much busier,” she said.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-930-4120.