Elections office seeks funds to replace aging voting machines; board tables decision for answers on compatibility

Caroline Taylor, presenting for the Board of Elections, urged the commissioners to approve a budget amendment to appropriate fund balance so the county can purchase the second half of replacement voting equipment now rather than waiting until next fiscal year. Taylor said the current machines are 13 years old and the county budgeted half the cost this fiscal year with the intent to cover the remainder next year. “We are just requesting approval of the budget amendment to appropriate the second half of these purchase,” she said.

A commissioner pressed for clarification about federal requirements referenced in an email from elections staff, asking whether the recommended ES and SDS 300 systems are not only “compliant” but also “compatible” with an executive order the commissioner described as coming from President Trump. The commissioner asked whether the vendor had provided written assurance that future upgrades could be made without additional county cost. “The company says they're compliant,” the commissioner said; she added that compatible would mean upgrades could be implemented without modification to equipment or software.

Staff offered to contact elections director Susie and the vendor and to return to the 6 p.m. meeting with a written response. The board agreed to table the item to the evening session to allow staff to obtain the requested clarifications.

No formal appropriation was made during the pre‑agenda meeting; the elections budget amendment will be revisited at 6 p.m.