Kaufman County elections office warns of equipment cost, forms changes after new federal and state actions

Joanie, an elections official for Kaufman County, told the commissioners that recent state bills and a presidential executive order could force one‑time costs and require changes to voting equipment and forms.

Joanie said about 49 election‑related bills were going to the governor and that the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) still must advise counties how a presidential executive order affects equipment, especially the county’s marking devices because the county’s paper ballots include barcodes. “While our current voting equipment is a paper ballot, it does contain a barcode and part of that executive order prohibits those barcodes,” Joanie said.

The elections office is budgeting for equipment and related contingencies. Joanie said the office plans to carry over $50,000 for voting equipment and $130,000 for software into the next fiscal year and is requesting an additional $215,000 for voting equipment. If the EAC…