Commissioners approve ballot-on-demand system, set early-voting hours and extend judges' terms

Limestone County commissioners voted to adopt a ballot-on-demand paper voting system and to set modified early-voting hours for an upcoming constitutional amendment election, Elections Director Chris Moody told the court.

Moody described the ballot-on-demand approach as providing a paper ballot to every voter at polling locations, with ballots scanned and tabulated at the polling place and final collection completed in the elections office. He said the approach avoids uncertainties tied to some fully electronic systems and noted a recent March executive order limits use of barcodes on ballots, an issue the ballot-on-demand system does not rely on.

Moody reminded the court that the county's current I.Votronics system was implemented in November 2005 and emphasized choosing a durable replacement. He said the county had previously budgeted roughly $500,000 for a more elaborate solution but that the ballot-on-demand option would be less expensive, mentioning a roughly $100,000 reduction in cost. Contract cost will be spread over three years, he said, mirroring the county's earlier financing when electronic systems were implemented in 2005. Moody said the first year of software license and support is included in the purchase price and recurring maintenance begins 12 months after delivery.

On budget specifics, Moody and commissioners discussed reducing an equipment-and-repair line to $150,000 and a separate $55,000 line item that was described as "put in for a list" in the transcript. He identified ES&S as a named vendor and referenced the county's long use of I.Votronics.

Moody also presented turnout data from a prior election showing very low use of extended-hours early voting at one site: 11 voters across the extended hours (four before 8 a.m., seven after 5 p.m., all before 5:45 p.m.), producing a high cost per additional vote during those extended hours. Based on that analysis and election-code requirements for extended hours at the main site, Moody recommended limiting extended hours to the Rosebud location and adjusting start times. The court adopted the elections office's recommendation with an amendment to start early voting at 6:00 a.m. Monday–Friday and with the final two setup days on Thursday and Friday for the November election.

The court also voted to appoint election judges to two-year terms. The transcript records a motion, a second and an "aye" vote with no opposition on the judges' term question.

The transcript does not record formal vote counts or the names of movers and seconders for the ballot-system item; the court recorded the ballot-system motion as passed with no recorded opposition.

After these votes the court announced it would enter executive session to discuss a personnel matter.