During a recent board meeting, Juan Monroe addressed the need for urgent upgrades to the county's election equipment, specifically the tabulators used for counting votes. Monroe highlighted that the current tabulators are outdated and in poor condition, requiring repairs due to malfunctioning diverters that misdirect votes.
The county's contract with Election Systems and Software has provided an estimate for replacing all election hardware and software, as parts for the existing equipment are no longer available. The proposed replacement would involve upgrading from the outdated DS 2100 tabulators to the newer DS 300 models.
A demonstration of the new equipment is scheduled for the following evening, with an invitation extended to county commissioners to attend. Monroe clarified that while the upgrades are not intended for the upcoming election, they are essential for future elections, potentially within the next two years. The board is currently focused on making the existing equipment functional for the immediate election cycle.