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Board approves switch to 10x electronic pollbooks, plans iPad rollout
Summary
Supervisors voted unanimously to waive an RFP and adopt 10x Software Solutions as the county’s electronic pollbook vendor, moving from laptops to iPads and budgeting the purchase across the capital plan.
The Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors voted April 29 to waive a formal request-for-proposal process and designate 10x Software Solutions as the county’s official electronic pollbook vendor, approving a purchase that officials said is largely budgeted in the county’s five-year capital plan.
County elections staff told supervisors there are only two vendors offering modern electronic pollbook systems in Iowa; 10x was described as three to five years ahead technologically of the county’s current vendor. The county plans to move from laptops to iPads for precinct workers, which staff said would reduce hardware and ongoing maintenance costs: staff estimated iPads cost roughly $400 each versus about $1,000 for laptops and generally have longer useful lives.
Financial details: staff said most of the purchase is already budgeted but the project is short roughly $1,516,000; elections staff said the office would absorb that difference in their regular budget rather than ask the board for an immediate supplemental appropriation. Suppliers confirmed inventory is available and the vendor agreed to hold stock for delivery July 1 so the county can complete procurement within the fiscal year and implement before scheduled elections.
Why it matters: Elections staff said the new system will cut precinct preparation time, eliminate some costs for pollbook printing, and allow faster software updates and remote management. IT staff described the iPad-based approach as secure (kiosk mode, remote disable) and easier to maintain.
Vote: Supervisors approved the waiver and vendor selection by roll call; the resolution passed unanimously.
Ending: Staff said implementation will proceed beginning July 1 with hardware delivery and training in time for upcoming elections, and the county will retire older laptop equipment as the new system is deployed.
