Champaign County considers 10x as new vendor for election registration software

The Champaign County Committee of the Whole convened on April 15, 2025, to address critical issues surrounding the county's voter registration system. The discussions highlighted the urgent need for a new vendor due to ongoing service failures with the current provider, Platinum, which has faced significant downtime during recent elections.

County officials expressed concern that without a reliable voter registration program, the integrity of upcoming elections could be jeopardized. The committee emphasized that the existing system is integral to processing voters and maintaining accurate election records. The urgency of the situation was underscored by the fact that several election authorities in Illinois have already abandoned Platinum due to similar issues.

A proposal was put forth to transition to a new vendor, 10x, which has a proven track record with over 300 jurisdictions nationwide, including major cities like Chicago. The committee noted that 10x's services would not only enhance reliability but also potentially save the county $225,000 through negotiated costs. The implementation and training expenses associated with the transition are expected to be covered by an IVRS grant, alleviating some financial burden on the county's general fund.

Despite the necessity of this change, some committee members expressed concerns about the upfront costs associated with the transition. The total yearly costs for the new vendor are projected to be between $158,000 and $160,000, compared to the current vendor's maintenance fee of approximately $71,000. However, officials stressed that the comprehensive services offered by 10x justify the increased expenditure.

The meeting concluded with a strong consensus among committee members on the need for a reliable voter registration system to ensure the smooth operation of future elections. The committee plans to further investigate potential cost reductions and will move forward with the proposal to adopt 10x as the new vendor, recognizing that the stability of the electoral process in Champaign County depends on this critical decision.