Jennifer Gayton, Dickinson County Clerk, briefed the commission on a HAVA security fund grant administered by the state that would pay 90% of eligible election-security costs and require a local 10% match. Gayton said a recommended core network switch for the elections office would cost about $45,000 and the county's share would be roughly $4,500. "He did say that we could use a core switch for our cybersecurity. That would be up around $45,000. So our portion would be 4,500," Gayton said.

Gayton said the grant application is due by Jan. 30 and, if awarded, the grant-funded equipment must be implemented by June. She noted past HAVA funding had purchased video cameras and key-card access for the elections office; the current round is intended to enhance cybersecurity and physical security.

Commissioners asked whether the work is preventive or to fix a known problem. Gayton said the grants regularly become available and are used to "enhance" security; she characterized this as an opportunity to offset most of the cost of upgrades rather than a repair to an urgent failure.

Gayton said she would explore other internal options but wanted the commission to be aware of the application deadlines. No formal vote on applying for the grant was recorded at the meeting; Gayton said she must file the application by the Jan. 30 deadline.