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Elko County OKs $39,914 contract for statewide voter registration and poll-pad system; commissioners call it an unfunded mandate
Summary
The board approved a one-year interlocal agreement with the Nevada Secretary of State for the statewide voter-registration system (NoInc / ePolls) and poll pads, at an anticipated county cost of $39,914; county clerk said the expense was expected and budgeted but described the statewide system as an unfunded mandate from the legislature.
Elko County commissioners on Tuesday approved a one-year interlocal contract with the Nevada Secretary of State to continue using the statewide voter-registration system (vendor listed as NoInc) and to support the county's poll pads, at a cost of roughly $39,915.
Rebecca Blanket of the Elko County Clerk's Office told the board the figure covers the state-mandated, top-down registration system and related poll-pad services the county used in last year's election. She said the state provided the contract this year and that the county put the amount into the elections budget for next fiscal year.
Commissioners pressed for details on timing and funding. Finance staff said the county has about $172,000 available in the elections department services-and-supplies line to cover the cost for the remainder of the fiscal year if the bill is payable on receipt, and that the clerk had included the item in next year's budget. "It's our total about our new system that we got implemented last year," Blanket said. A commissioner described the expense as an "unfunded mandate" imposed by the legislature.
Blanket explained the terms: NoInc is the vendor; "ePulse" is the central system that monitors poll-pad check-ins across precincts so election staff can see check-in status by location; poll pads are the portable check-in devices used at polling places to prevent double voting.
The board approved the contract in a voice vote. Commissioners also discussed the broader issue of state-mandated changes to election systems and how those costs are budgeted at the county level.
The contract covers one year of service; county staff said they budgeted the amount in anticipation of the state's charge and that the system is intended to prevent duplicate voting by reporting voter check-ins in real time across jurisdictions.
No public opposition was raised during the discussion; the item passed on a motion and second with a voice vote.
