Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Elections Pollbooks topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Elections staff to test ES&S poll books; county says clearer readiness picture in 2'3 weeks
Summary
Dallas County elections staff told Commissioners they had taken delivery of new ES&S electronic poll books and that staff would complete device testing and training; officials said they will have a clearer go/no-go assessment for the May ballot in about two to three weeks.
County elections staff briefed the Commissioners Court on the status of new electronic poll books from ES&S (referred to in court as ES and S), saying initial deliveries have arrived and staff are preparing training and device deployment.
An elections staff member told the court the first large batch of devices was due within weeks and that the team would prepare training materials and begin staff training immediately. "Give us about 2 more weeks, 3 weeks to see them deliver that large batch of units," the staff member said, adding the county would not "jump the gun" on public messaging until the systems had completed delivery and testing.
Commissioners asked how many entities would use the devices in the upcoming May election; elections staff replied that about 38 entities were scheduled. County leaders said the May timeline makes the next few weeks critical for acceptance testing, certification and training.
Why it matters: Poll books are central to check-in and provisional processes on election day. Commissioners emphasized the need for real-time assurance that devices are tested, trained on and certified well in advance of any election with multiple jurisdictions.
What comes next: Elections staff said they will report back to the court with test results and a readiness determination within roughly two to three weeks. The court also discussed ES&S certification steps and the possibility of contingency planning if the vendor cannot meet the timeline.
