State elections office budgets major IT upgrades; SBE says delays pushed poll‑book rollout to 2028
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Summary
The State Board of Elections presented a $69.7 million FY27 allowance driven by major IT investments—new poll books, a new voting system and a voter‑registration modernization project—while SBE said earlier vendor problems delayed poll books and reaffirmed plans for accessibility demos and restoration of older campaign finance data.
Natalie Andrade of the Department of Legislative Services told the Public Safety and Administration Subcommittee that the State Board of Elections’ fiscal 27 allowance totals $69.7 million, an increase driven by several multiyear information‑technology projects: statewide poll book modernization, a new voting system, a voter‑registration and election administration modernization project (BRIM), and ongoing cybersecurity and vendor costs.
Andrade said the statewide poll‑book modernization contract was approved in December 2025 with an estimated total cost of $30–40 million and that full implementation is targeted for the 2028 election cycle after a vendor cancellation delayed the timetable. The projected cost range for a replacement voting system is substantially larger—between $100 million and $125 million over the program—with the fiscal 27 allowance including a combination of special and general funds to begin implementation work.
State Administrator Jared DeMarinis said SBE canceled a previously noncompliant poll‑book vendor, rebid and contracted a new vendor, and that delay pushed poll book deployment from 2026 to 2028. DeMarinis confirmed the new campaign reporting information system went live in December 2025 and that data conversion issues were being addressed through reconciliation; he said deleted early campaign finance data will be restored by April. On accessibility, DeMarinis said the agency will hold public demonstrations in March of the ballot‑marking and accessible voting features that are part of the new system and reiterated that electronic ballot return would require legislative action.
Committee members asked for contingency planning and quarterly reporting on major IT projects to ensure readiness for the 2028 election cycle and for details on local board warehouse leases and vendor oversight. SBE said it will coordinate with DoIT and provide the requested project‑level reports.
