Commissioners see demo of Verity Vanguard voting system, table purchase for further review

Jim Wells County elections staff and representatives from Hart InterCivic demonstrated the Verity Vanguard voting system before the commissioners court on Sept. 26, 2025.

Richard Guerra of the county Elections Office introduced the demonstration and said the county—s current Verity (Hart) systems are approaching nine years of service and that the on‑demand printing approach reduces excess preprinted ballots and storage needs. Mike McMurray and Simon Saenz, sales account managers with Hart InterCivic, walked the court through poll pad integration, on‑demand ballot printing ("Boost"), an accessible voting device ("Flex"), spoil/reprint procedures and two‑factor authentication for poll workers.

Commissioners asked about certification and first use. McMurray said the vendor is pursuing state certification with a goal of end‑of‑year certification and potential first use in March. When asked about total cost, the judge said, "the grand total of the cost is $348,059." Vendor staff confirmed the figure represents a one‑time equipment purchase and noted there will be ongoing annual licensing and support fees.

County staff explained the purchase could be sole‑source under current procurement rules and that the county had secured funding for poll pad replacement from the Secretary of State; commissioners asked staff to assess funding sources and timing before committing to purchase.

After questions about printer reliability, paper stock, spare cartridges, and whether the system will reduce ballot spoilage, the court voted to table the purchase to give staff time to explore funding, certification timelines and procurement options.

The court indicated it will request a full financing and implementation plan and bring the item back for a future decision once details are finalized.