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Commission reviews state voting-machine threshold and finds county compliant for now
Summary
Staff reviewed Alabama Code §1763(B) and turnout data with the probate judge and concluded no single electronic voting machine in county precincts is reasonably anticipated to record over 2,400 votes given current precinct configurations and turnout history; commissioners retained discretion to require additional machines if turnout projections change.
County staff reviewed Alabama Code §1763(B), which requires counties to provide additional electronic voting machines if any single machine is anticipated to record more than 2,400 votes. Drew presented precinct turnout data (2018 through recent elections) and said the probate judge's analysis shows that, with the county's current allocation of machines, no single machine is reasonably expected to exceed the 2,400-vote threshold in foreseeable elections.
Drew walked commissioners through the turnout columns and noted that even at historical high-turnout rates the highest per-machine averages fall below 2,400 votes in current precinct configurations. He and staff said one precinct would require an unusually high turnout (about 74%) to exceed the threshold on a single assigned machine — a level the county has not recorded in recent elections.
Staff emphasized the commission retains discretion; if commissioners anticipate turnout changes that would push a precinct above the statutory threshold, they should vote at a regular meeting to authorize the probate judge to reassign machines or split voter lists as the statute contemplates. For now, the probate judge does not expect any compliance actions are necessary.
Next step: the commission will note the review in the regular meeting record and can act if turnout projections change before an election.
