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Erie County elections board debates buying 75 upgraded tabulators amid vendor-ownership questions
Summary
Board discussed Resolution 8 20 25 to purchase 75 upgraded scanner tabulators using available funds; members expressed concern about timing and the recent change of Dominion Voting’s ownership (referenced in the meeting as Liberty/Liberty Votes) and said a funding transfer and county-council approval would be required before purchase.
At the Nov. 20 meeting the Erie County Board of Elections discussed Resolution 8 20 25, which would authorize purchase of up to 75 upgraded scanner tabulators to replace or supplement existing equipment.
Staff said the upgraded scanners fit the same housings used in the county’s warehouse and at polling locations and could be acquired incrementally so the county would not bear the full multi-million-dollar cost in a single year. Staff noted the county has worked with its current vendor for years and that vendor personnel were present on-site during the election. The transcript records staff referring to Dominion and a name change to "Liberty" or "Liberty Votes," and staff said the Department of State told counties the change did not require equipment or firmware recertification.
Public commenter Freddie had raised concerns earlier about recent changes in voting-machine ownership and asked how the board vets vendors and whether voters are informed about mail-ballot processing. "I'm just really concerned that we're getting deeper in with this organization that we are not sure how benevolent they are," Freddie said during public comment.
Board members asked about timing and funding. Staff explained that some funds are available but a transfer greater than 10% would be required to move money into the equipment line and that county-council action may be needed to complete the purchase. Several board members said they were hesitant to make a large purchase immediately, noting recent equipment purchases and that the county still has serviceable machines; one member suggested reconvening in December for a short meeting to decide if needed.
By the end of the recorded discussion the board had not completed a final vote on Resolution 8 20 25. Staff said purchases would need to be completed before the busy election year next fall if the board decided to proceed, and that the office wants to preserve transparency about spending decisions. The transcript shows a procedural back-and-forth about whether to move the resolution and about next steps for transfers and county-council approvals, but no final motion outcome was recorded in the excerpt.
