Miami County approves $37,600 purchase of polling pads for 2025 elections

The Miami County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously June 11 to purchase 30 polling tablets and related stands and printers for $37,600 for use in the 2025 election cycle.

County Clerk Lucas told the commission the purchase is budgeted and would improve check‑in speed and accuracy at polling sites, shorten lines and reduce staff time. "Polling pads help us ensure transparency and accuracy of our elections," Lucas said. He said the devices are Election Assistance Commission certified and estimated delivery at six to eight weeks, in time for the general election.

Lucas said the county considered a buyback on the existing tablets but the vendor offered about $5 per tablet because older devices no longer receive security updates. He recommended keeping the older tablets for internal use or disposing of them through the county surplus program rather than accepting the low buyback offer. He also presented a lease alternative priced at $39,603 over three years and explained why purchasing outright made fiscal sense given the current budget and the typical iPad hardware life of four to seven years.

Commissioners questioned the equipment budget and how much remained after the purchase; Lucas said the county set aside $91,000 in the equipment budget for 2025. A motion to proceed with the $37,600 purchase passed unanimously.

The commission discussed options for any remaining equipment funds, including returning unspent money to the general fund or reserving it for future election equipment needs. No amendments to the purchase were made.