Auditor outlines elections budget, flags $1 million tabulator replacement and voter mailer options
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Summary
Auditor presented the FY2027 elections budget, noting higher expected turnout, a quoted $1,000,000 to replace aging tabulators/express vote machines, $16,000 to migrate records to ArcaSearch, and options to mail voter notifications about new supervisor districts (estimated $13,000–$25,000 depending on scope).
The county auditor told the Board of Supervisors on Jan. 27 that the elections budget for FY2027—centered on a general election year—anticipates higher turnout and carries several capital requests, including a vendor quote of about $1,000,000 to replace end-of-life tabulators and express-vote machines.
The auditor said tabulators and express vote machines were purchased in 2015–2016 and that vendors typically cite a 10-year useful life; an updated vendor quote to replace the county—leet was presented as approximately $1,000,000, which includes buy-back of old equipment. No federal or state replacement funding was identified.
Elections staff also asked the board to consider $16,000 to migrate previously digitized election records into ArcaSearch so they are searchable for the public. The auditor said this is necessary because earlier digitized records migrated to a vendor platform that is no longer directly searchable.
Because the county has redrawn supervisor districts, the auditor provided two notice options: sending an updated voter registration card to each of the county pproximately 81,000 voters (print+postage ~ $25,000) or a household postcard to ~47,000 households (~$13,000). The auditor said the board could choose timing (before the primary would require a budget amendment; before the general could be included in FY27 planning).
Elections staff described operational assumptions for a general election year: planning for roughly 25,000 absentee voters, more in-person turnout, and the need to hire part-time precinct workers and absentee processing teams to meet statutory timeframes. They said some line items decreased versus FY25 because of an electronic pollbook transition and one-time purchases completed in the current year.
The board discussed whether voting-machine replacement would be a bond-eligible capital item; staff noted optical scanner equipment can qualify as essential and may be bondable, but legislative changes are in flux. Supervisors requested additional information on funding sources and the capital plan timing before committing to the full replacement.
The board did not vote on the capital requests during the session; staff said they will return with additional detail and options.