Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Elections topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Registrar of Voters wins four‑year extension with DFM; county seeks more EMS vendor options
Summary
The Board approved a four‑year extension of San Joaquin County's agreement with DFM Associates for the Elections Information Management System through Sept. 30, 2029. Registrar Olivia Hale said the extension secures continuity while the county co‑leads a statewide effort to expand certified EMS vendors in California.
The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 26 approved a four‑year extension with DFM Associates to continue use of its Elections Information Management System (EIMS) from Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2029. Registrar of Voters Olivia Hale told supervisors the negotiated contract totals $656,640 over four years and uses a graduated rate increase rather than the 31% flat increase originally proposed by the vendor.
Hale described the EMS as the back‑end software that manages voter registration, election setup and logistics (distinct from the voting system used to capture and tabulate ballots). She also outlined the county’s role as a co‑leader of a statewide working group that seeks to reduce barriers for election management systems certified in other states to operate in California. The county has been tracking ProVISTA, a newer EMS implemented in Nevada County, and Hale said San Joaquin County staff assisted Nevada County in testing that system’s implementation.
The registrar said funds for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 are already budgeted and that the county intends to issue a formal solicitation before the contract expires in 2029. "We negotiated a shift from a flat fee increase to a graduated rate increase, saving money over the term of the contract," Hale said, adding that the county resisted a five‑year vendor request and instead secured a four‑year term aligned with future solicitation planning.
Supervisors asked how long out‑of‑state vendors typically take to certify in California; Hale said certification can take years, citing ProVISTA's multiyear certification process. The board approved the extension without opposition.
Why it matters: The EIMS is a core administrative system for elections. The extension preserves continuity while staff shape a procurement process intended to expand certified vendor options and increase competition.
What comes next: Registrar Hale said the office will proceed with the extension and continue to co‑lead the statewide working group; the board asked staff to keep the county informed as certification and solicitation work continues.
