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LAFCO agrees to study open-source voting systems after Board of Supervisors request
Summary
Commissioner Marr moved and Commissioner Campos seconded a motion directing LAFCO to study an open-source voting system for San Francisco; commissioners and staff noted the Sequoia contract and Department of Elections schedule could constrain timing.
At the Dec. 12 meeting the commission considered a Board of Supervisors' request that LAFCO study open-source election systems. Commissioner Marr moved to undertake the study, seconded by Commissioner Campos; the motion was approved without objection.
Commissioners discussed sequencing and Department of Elections engagement. Jason Fried said he would research scope, time and resources and return in January with recommendations; he also noted that existing contracts with the current vendor (Sequoia) and Department of Elections workload around upcoming elections could affect when implementation would be feasible. "The report that we're doing isn't gonna actually create the open-source system. It's gonna be, here's the pathway for what it might take for the city and county to do it," Fried said.
Commissioners signaled support for the study while stressing realistic timing given contractual constraints. LAFCO will coordinate with Department of Elections to determine what information is required and how to phase the study so it does not interfere with election operations.
Next steps: Staff will return with a proposed scope, timeline and engagement plan for the Department of Elections in the January meeting.
