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Wichita County approves new iPads, accessories and voting equipment upgrades ahead of future needs
Summary
The Commissioner's Court approved purchases to replace aging iPads used for voter check‑in, buy cases and stands for uniformity, and authorize software and hardware upgrades for county election equipment; the items were funded from budgeted equipment lines and approved 5‑0.
WICHITA COUNTY, Texas — Wichita County commission members approved several election‑technology purchases on May 13 to replace older devices and standardize equipment used at polling sites.
The court approved purchases that together will replace 35 iPads that county elections staff said are approaching end of support and update accessories so devices are uniform across the office. The court also approved a Verity upgrade kit and on‑site professional services and authorized replenishment of v‑drives and certain device batteries used with voting controllers and scanners.
Elections staff said the county currently has 35 iPads that are Generation 5 models and that Apple will stop providing security updates for those devices after this year. “We have 35, current iPads that are gen fives that after this year, Apple will no longer provide security updates for,” the elections representative told the court, noting the county bought seven Generation‑9 units last year.
The purchases approved by the court include: 35 iPads (quoted at $11,900), cases, stands and printers and other accessories for the new devices (quote $28,875) so all 42 tablets will use the same stand and case; a Verity upgrade kit plus up to three days of professional on‑site service ($6,811.50); and a 30 percent replenishment of v‑drives and Verity device batteries for controllers and scanners ($5,481). The court recorded that it had budgeted funds in department 490 for the elections equipment purchases.
Elections vendor Hart InterCivic will perform the Verity upgrade and related service. The county’s elections administrator explained that the new central‑count computer will not read older data after the software change, so the county will retain the current machine for archive access while the new computer serves active operations.
Motion and outcome: Commissioners moved and seconded the proposals and approved the equipment purchases and upgrade work; motions carried 5‑0 on the items that appeared as agenda items 9 through 12.
Why it matters: Elections staff said the replacements are needed to keep devices secure and to maintain a uniform configuration across polling locations. County officials noted that technology lifecycles require periodic replacement and that while accessory costs are significant, they were budgeted in the 2025 equipment plan.
