Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Election Equipment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Knox County board authorizes seeking financing for $466,559 voting‑equipment upgrade
Summary
The board authorized the treasurer to solicit bids and financing for new voting equipment after elections staff recommended a vendor; the quote discussed was $466,559.38 for the county's next‑generation, paper‑return touchscreen and optical‑scan system, and the financing authorization passed 10–2.
The Knox County Board on Aug. 27 authorized the treasurer to seek bids and financing for next‑generation voting equipment following a presentation by county elections staff.
Elections official Scott Erickson recommended the county continue working with Government Business Systems (GBS) and described the new equipment as a touchscreen interface that prints a full‑size ballot for the voter to review and deposit into an optical‑scan tabulator. Erickson said the change moves the county to a system in which a printed paper ballot serves as the official record for recounts and audits.
Erickson said the vendor and bid tabulation yielded an updated cost of $466,559.38, and staff recommended about 32 touchscreen units plus corresponding optical readers to cover the county’s 28 precincts, early voting and reserves. Board members asked about ADA accessibility, calibration and how a voter’s ballot style would be set; Erickson said the system is designed to meet ADA requirements and that judges would establish ballot style at check‑in or through an electronic poll‑book barcode workflow.
Board members raised concerns about adding steps to the voting process and about whether financing would increase long‑term costs. Erickson and other staff said the county’s existing touchscreens are aging, replacement parts are scarce and the paper‑return devices provide a verifiable paper trail while preserving an accessible electronic interface for voters with disabilities.
The board did not approve a purchase at the meeting but authorized the treasurer to solicit financing and bids and to return with firm loan terms; the motion to begin that procurement step passed on roll call, 10 ayes and 2 nays.
Next steps include solicitation of bids and presentation of firm financing terms to the board for final approval.
