Board conditionally selects Demtech for electronic poll books; Risk Limiting Audit cleared

At its March 3 meeting the Charlotte County Electoral Board moved to accept a proposal from Demtech to supply electronic poll books, with the acceptance conditioned on the vendor meeting additions requested by Registrar Eric Goode. Chairman Lawrence Clark introduced the Demtech motion and amended it to include Goode’s conditions; the motion was seconded by Warren Browning and recorded as varied without a dissenting vote.

Registrar Goode asked the board that Demtech provide a clear plan for how it would respond to problems similar to those experienced in the November 2020 election and ensure the company can deliver timely software updates and maintenance. The amended motion—"we accept the Demtech proposal if the additions Eric needs are acceptable"—captures the board’s conditional acceptance pending vendor confirmation.

The board also reviewed a recently completed Risk Limiting Audit, which found no need for a second-round audit; the next audit is expected within three to five years. The board noted that accurate scales are required for future audits, saying bathroom scales used in the most recent audit were not reliable at lower weights and that calibrated scales must be purchased.

With primaries roughly six weeks away, board members discussed related logistical steps: scouting new sites for the Saxe/Bacon precinct after Shiloh church withdrew as a polling place (members agreed to meet March 19 at noon to evaluate prospects), preparing schedules and time logs for the Registrar and assistants, and purchasing equipment. Registrar Eric Goode reported a vendor offer for three Dell laptops priced at $1,000.77 for board members.

The board recorded these administrative decisions and the conditional vendor selection as part of its preparations for the upcoming primary cycle.