Commission approves sole-source purchase for new voting equipment as precinct plan draws protest
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Summary
The St. Francois County Commission voted to approve a sole-source procurement from Atkins Services (Unisys) to replace ballot-counting equipment with ADA-compliant voting machines, with delivery planned for January and payments amortized over 10 years.
The St. Francois County Commission voted to approve a sole-source procurement from Atkins Services (Unisys) for new ballot-counting and ADA-compliant voting equipment, with the procurement priced in the motion at $117,533 and delivery scheduled for January.
Elections staff told the commission the county has been using older equipment and that new units will be ADA-compliant and smaller so voters in wheelchairs can approach the units directly. The vendor will supply machines plus service technicians to test and unjam equipment and to provide on-site assistance during elections. "These are the machines when you put your ballots in, they count and the big trash can type things," staff said during the presentation.
Officials said the county will amortize payments over 10 years and finance purchases from an elections capital fund that has been set aside. Staff reported a plan to place 35 machines across several voting centers and to reduce the number of precincts; the system will print ballots on demand at voting centers so the county will not have to preprint as many paper ballots.
Commissioners discussed procurement rules for sole-source purchases. One commissioner asked whether a required public notice would be posted if the purchase exceeds $12,000; staff acknowledged the statute requires a 10-day newspaper posting for sole-source purchases over that threshold.
The proposed consolidation of precincts into voting centers prompted public concern: staff noted they had received at least one formal resolution opposing consolidation and said they would continue outreach to city and school boards and provide transportation to the new voting centers where required. Staff emphasized that some remote locations (Bismarck and Leadwood) will remain eligible for special arrangements and would remain ADA-compliant.
No exact per-machine unit price was finalized in the presentation; staff provided multiple figures during the discussion as they described different vendor proposals and payment schedules. Commissioners approved the sole-source motion by voice vote.