Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Voting Systems topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board pauses $12.6 million Sequoia voting-system contract after community demands for code transparency
Summary
A proposed $12.6 million contract with Sequoia Voting Systems drew extensive public testimony demanding open-source access to source code and caution on ranked-choice voting certification; the committee continued the item for one week to negotiate contract language and public disclosure terms.
The Department of Elections— proposed $12,600,000 four-year contract with Sequoia Voting Systems drew intense public scrutiny on Feb. 14, with questions about source-code access, ranked-choice-voting (RCV) certification, vendor ownership and implementation timing. Director John Arndt told the committee the contract is primarily paper based and includes touchscreen devices for voters with disabilities; $5.8 million of the contract would be funded by federal and state grants and the remainder—about $6.8 million—would require general-fund support.
Arndt described contract protections for the city: surety bonds ($3 million first year, declining in later years), liquidated-damages caps and an obligation for Sequoia to organize and pay for a hand count if a certified RCV-capable system is not in place for the November election. "This contract does provide protections for the city...There—s a whole string of damages that are involved," Arndt said. He also said Sequoia had agreed to language that could facilitate an eventual transition to open-source code and to third-party security review provisions.
Public commenters, advocates and experts pressed for stronger, explicit open-source requirements in the contract. Speakers cited demonstrated vulnerabilities (a Princeton researcher—s vote-flipping demonstration), concerns about Sequoia—s ownership (references to Smartmatic and related filings) and the risk of being without a certified system come the November election. "We need a clause in this contract with Sequoia so that we can be absolutely sure that we do have open source and access," said Louise Custer, a resident. The Open Voting Consortium and multiple community organizations urged the Board to delay approval until code access language and backup plans are clearly specified.
City officials acknowledged timing pressures: the department said certification and system readiness are tight for the next election and that a backup plan is required by local code if certification remains pending. After extended public comment and internal discussion, the committee voted to continue the contract item for one week to allow negotiation of stronger public-disclosure language with the vendor and further review of contingency plans.
Next steps: the Department of Elections and Sequoia representatives will meet with supervisors and advocates to draft alternative contract language; the item will return to committee within one week.
