Electoral board asks supervisors to fund 16 electronic poll books and finalizes officer assignments

The Charlotte County Electoral Board voted Oct. 7 to seek Board of Supervisors funding to purchase 16 electronic poll books from vendor Dem Tech and finalized staffing plans for the November election.

Rebecca Daly, chair of the Democratic Party of Charlotte County, urged the board to decide how many poll books to buy so the board could present a proposal to the Board of Supervisors. Secretary Glenwood Foster moved that the board attend the October Board of Supervisors meeting to request funding for 16 poll books — two for each precinct, including the CAP — a motion the chair, Claudette Powell, seconded and which passed without dissent.

Board members discussed overdue invoices from Dem Tech and reviewed quotes for the electronic poll books. The minutes record the vendor as Dem Tech and note invoices were submitted after the September meeting; the board discussed how to handle payment procedures before moving forward with the purchase request.

The board also reviewed election logistics, including delivery and setup of voting machines, and approved assignments for officers of election. The board decided to have three officers at each precinct with two additional alternates and said the selections were made in compliance with Code 24.2-115; the minutes note this staffing pattern had not been used previously.

Secretary Foster reported on a VEBA meeting Sept. 4 where new election laws and FOIA/open-meeting requirements were reviewed, material the board said informed its procedural discussions. The board directed staff to pursue placement on a Board of Supervisors agenda to request the funding; if it cannot be added to October, the board will seek placement on the November agenda.

The meeting adjourned following routine board comments and the formal motion to adjourn.