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Public commenters urge return to hand counts, criticize proprietary tabulators
Summary
Two members of the public told commissioners they want Pennington County to stop using ES&S tabulators and return to hand counts, citing cost and transparency concerns.
During the public comment period at the July 15 meeting, two Rapid City residents urged Pennington County commissioners to stop using ES&S electronic ballot tabulators and return to hand counting for elections.
Dale Bussey, who identified himself from Creekside View Avenue, presented cost comparisons he prepared for recent election cycles and told commissioners the county (and the state) spent more than necessary on tabulators. "You can't even get into the machines to check out if they're legitimate," Bussey said, describing vendor software as "proprietary" and raising transparency concerns. He urged a precinct‑based hand‑count approach he described as more local and less costly.
Cindy Cook, a downtown business owner, raised similar concerns about expense and voter confidence, saying the machines are "not secure" and urging the county to consider alternatives.
Why it matters: Election administration choices affect both annual operating costs and public confidence in results. Commissioners acknowledged the comments and did not take action during the meeting; staff or the county auditor would be the office to field specific requests regarding election methods and vendor contracts.
What the record shows: Commenters did not present a formal petition or motion; commissioners reiterated that public comment will be considered but that no immediate action was taken at the July 15 meeting.
