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Cochise supervisors approve $308,000 for tabulators, back related elections purchases and remodel
Summary
The Cochise County Board of Supervisors approved $308,000 to buy two DS950 high-speed tabulators, authorized $27,000 for automated letter openers and approved up to $250,000 for a remodel of the Elections and Treasurer offices after public comment and a 2–1 vote on the tabulators.
The Cochise County Board of Supervisors voted to transfer $308,000 from general fund contingency to the elections department to buy two DS950 high-speed scanners, approved $27,000 to buy automated letter openers and authorized up to $250,000 for a remodel of the Elections and Treasurer's offices.
The measures were taken during the board’s regular meeting in the Supervisor’s Hearing Room. The tabulator purchase passed 2–1, with Supervisor Crosby voting no; the letter-opener purchase and the remodel passed unanimously, 3–0.
Why it matters: the purchases and remodel directly affect how ballots are processed and where ballots are stored and counted. Public commenters urged a move away from machine tabulation to hand counts; county officials said the changes are needed to meet current statutory and practical requirements while work continues on longer-term alternatives.
Elections staff requested the tabulators as “primary tabulators moving forward.” County elections staff member Mister Case said, “I'm just asking for the money to purchase the 2 DS950s, to be our primary tabulators moving forward.”
During public comment, Radford Hyde of Sierra Vista urged the board not to buy more machines, saying the purchase sends the wrong message to constituents who favor hand counts. Hyde said, “Paper ballots, hand count, all of that needs to be implemented as soon as possible.” Hyde also noted additional related spending on facility improvements.
Board members acknowledged public concern and said any transition away from machines must follow legal processes. Supervisor Antinori (spelled as in the meeting record) told the public that a switch to precinct hand counts would require redrawing precincts, establishing validated procedures, and likely litigation to settle statutory questions. Antinori said the county must “define the process” and validate it before eliminating machines.
County staff described the planned remodel as a combination of physical-security and transparency changes: increasing the size of the Treasurer's vault where ballots are stored; removing a hallway that currently runs through the elections area so the space can be used for tabulation; adding two bathrooms to remove a corridor that election staff must now share with the public; and creating an observation room so the public can view tabulation activity from a secure, in-person vantage point. The motion authorized the remodel “not to exceed $250,000.”
The board also approved $27,000 to buy two OPEX 410 automated letter openers for the elections department; that motion passed 3–0.
Votes and next steps: the tabulator purchase passed 2–1; the board said it intends to develop a plan, hold work sessions and pursue any legal validation before attempting to replace machines with hand counts countywide. Supervisors described a timeline that would aim to create validated procedures and, if necessary, take the issue into the courts before the 2026 election cycle.
The board set a related noon meeting in the Executive Conference Room to discuss election-related issues and the county’s motion to dismiss in a related case.
Ending: The tabulator procurement and related facility project move forward immediately under the county’s budget transfer authority; the county said it will pursue process changes for hand counting only after formal planning and legal review.
