San Benito supervisors ratify retroactive election‑support contracts to secure on‑site ballot assistance

San Benito County supervisors on May 26 approved retroactive amendments and a successor agreement to formalize legacy contracts with Dominion Voting Services (now Liberty Vote) and secure on‑site technical support for ballot processing.

County elections staff and counsel said the changes correct prior procedural inconsistencies in the contract record and ensure the county will have technical staff at polling/counting locations when ballots are processed. "We are here in good faith to finalize the compliance transition and also to secure a new agreement with the successor company Liberty Vote," said Francisco Diaz, presenting the urgency item.

County Counsel explained legal review identified legacy contracting practices that needed administrative ratification to bring the record into conformance with current procurement standards. The board voted to ratify the amendments and proceed with the successor agreement to reduce operational risk during election work.

The change was added to the agenda as an urgency item because staff said the board would not meet again before election day. No public speakers raised objections at the time of the vote, which passed 5-0. The board directed staff to continue coordinating with county counsel to ensure compliant contract documentation going forward.

What’s next: The ratified amendment allows the registrar’s office to schedule and receive on‑site technical assistance during upcoming elections. Staff said additional procurement or administrative steps will follow as needed and that they will coordinate with the CEO and counsel on any remaining documentation.