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Cochise County approves Elections Department equipment as residents clash over ES&S machines
Summary
The Board of Supervisors approved consent agenda items that included purchases for the Elections Department while public commenters sharply disagreed over buying additional ES&S equipment.
The Cochise County Board of Supervisors on May 6 approved consent agenda items that included equipment purchases and a remodel for the Elections Department after brief public comment both supporting and opposing the investment.
Radford Hyde of Sierra Vista criticized the county's planned purchases from ES&S, saying the company’s machines had ‘‘screwed up the last election’’ and accusing supervisors of spending ‘‘good money after bad.’’ Hyde told the board he and other election-integrity activists expected stronger pressure on supervisors to reject further purchases from the vendor.
A separate speaker, Allison Morse, thanked the board for approving two high-speed scanners, two automated letter openers and a remodel of the Elections Department to increase visibility while ballots are processed. Morse said the equipment will ‘‘increase the speed of processing ballots’’ and urged the board to improve meeting audio and to record public positions on agenda items in the minutes.
The board approved the consent agenda — items 1 through 6 — by voice vote after the public comments. The motion to accept the consent agenda was made from the dais and carried when members answered “Aye.” The record does not show a roll-call tally for each board member in the transcript.
Why it matters: purchases of election equipment have drawn public scrutiny in Cochise County. Opponents in public comment raised concerns about transparency and vendor trustworthiness; others argued the investments will improve processing speed and visibility during ballot handling.
Discussion details: Hyde repeatedly named ES&S and urged supervisors to reconsider any further purchases from that vendor, saying county residents who campaigned against the machines had been ignored. Morse, who identified herself as a commenter speaking about the Elections Department, framed the purchases as investments in efficiency and transparency and requested clearer meeting procedures so the public’s positions are recorded.
Board action: The consent agenda — which included the Elections Department purchases and remodel described by Morse — was approved by voice vote. The transcript records affirmative “Aye” responses and the chair’s declaration that the motion passed; no detailed roll-call vote is recorded in the meeting transcript excerpt.
What remains unresolved: The transcript does not record any staff response to Hyde’s comments, nor does it show the vendor contract details, funding source, or whether the board directed any follow-up review of ES&S equipment or software access.
