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Public commenters urge Collin County to delay ES&S maintenance contract pending federal standards and executive order
Summary
Speakers urged commissioners to delay approving a maintenance contract with ES&S, citing an April 2025 presidential executive order and lack of VVSG 2 certification for ES&S systems; they recommended escape clauses and caution given possible changes to early-voting and certification rules.
Several members of the public urged the Commissioners Court to delay or amend a planned maintenance contract with ES&S for voting equipment until federal and state election-standards questions are resolved.
A speaker identified as Lee Moore asked the court to delay a maintenance contract valued at more than $370,000 for ballot-marking devices, arguing the legislature and the Election Assistance Commission’s (EAC) certification process could change system requirements. Moore referenced Presidential Executive Order 14248 (dated March 25, 2025) and said the order requires certain changes — including preferences for hand-marked paper ballots and standards that would take effect well before the next general election — and recommended adding contract escape clauses to allow refunds or adjustments if systems fail to meet federal standards.
Moore said the EAC had told an inquiry (as of May 1) that ES&S had not yet submitted a system for VVSG 2 testing and that no ES&S systems were in the VVSG 2 certification queue; Moore urged the court to avoid financial commitments that might become unnecessary or require costly modifications if the legislature or federal guidance changes.
Another commenter, Reynolds, expressed support for Executive Order 14248 and promoted increased use of hand-marked ballots, saying ballot-barcode translations reduce transparency and recommending expansion of hand-marked ballots for future elections.
Speakers noted that SB 2753 and other election bills under consideration in Austin could change voting requirements, and urged the court to coordinate contract timing with the results of state and federal rulemaking. Commissioners did not take a final vote on any ES&S maintenance contract during this meeting; the public record shows these comments were offered during the public-comment period.
