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County clerk warns of possible federal ballot-marking change; requests contingency for new tabulators
Summary
The county clerk briefed commissioners on a potential federal change removing barcode output from ballot-marking devices and requested budget flexibility to acquire DS300 tabulators and related equipment if needed.
Hutchinson County’s county clerk warned the commissioners about a possible change at the federal level that could remove barcode output from ballot-marking devices and said the county may need to upgrade equipment depending on the Election Assistance Commission’s (EAC) September vote.
The clerk told the court the county currently uses express-vote ballot-marking devices that produce barcodes and that, if barcode technology is eliminated without a grace period, the county could be required to revert to paper-only processes or acquire new equipment. The clerk proposed two paths: a contingency appropriation to cover a 20% local match if a state or federal grant is offered, and pre-purchasing five DS200/DS300 tabulators now (the clerk cited an estimated $38,000 for the tabulators and an estimated $20,000 20% match calculation). The clerk also said that if statewide voting changes reduce precinct equipment needs, the county might need fewer new tabulators.
After discussion the clerk set a placeholder of $3,500 in the budget for election-equipment contingency while awaiting final EAC guidance; commissioners asked staff to monitor the EAC vote and to bring a specific funding request if the rule change is finalized.
