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County proposes $3.8 million voting-machine replacement, plans CO funding to accelerate deployment
Summary
Elections staff urged replacement of aging voting machines (about 14 years old); commissioners were presented with a $3.8 million procurement plan combining $700,000 in sinking/special funds and $3.1 million in proposed certificates of obligation to get machines in place for the next major elections.
County elections staff and budget officials asked commissioners to approve a plan to replace the county's aging voting machines, with staff recommending a mix of existing sinking-fund cash and certificates of obligation (CO) to finance the balance.
The county estimates total cost near $3.8 million and said about $700,000 is already available from sinking funds and special-revenue accounts. "So right now there's about $700,000 in the sinking fund and operating fund that Cara is... understands that she can use this for voting machines," staff said. The recommendation was to use the $700,000 and authorize COs for roughly $3.1 million.
Elections director staff said the machines being considered (the vendor presented as the 'Hart'-style system in discussion) can be delivered in time for the constitutional election if the court moves quickly; commissioners asked for party access and a pilot to minimize risk before primaries and expressed concern about testing and training timelines.
Budget and procurement plan: staff proposed a reimbursement resolution and quick procurement path so machines could be ordered and placed in time for November if the court approves early. Commissioners emphasized the need for sufficient testing before the county's primary and requested party review and an implementation plan that includes training for poll workers.
Provenance: voting-machine discussion and CO proposal are in the Tab 7/CO projects section and were debated in the capital projects conversation (topicintro: SEG 3620; topfinish: SEG 3712).
