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Election commissioner urges caution on replacing voting machines amid federal uncertainty
Summary
Andrew Howell told county commissioners the voting equipment is near 10 years old but he advised delaying major purchases until federal Election Assistance Commission guidance stabilizes; commissioners said they expect an RFP process when the county proceeds.
In questioning about capital needs, Andrew Howell said Shawnee County's voting equipment is approaching the end of its planned life and the county will need to replace machines. "It's about 10 years that we've had the same equipment," he said, and cautioned the board that changes in federal guidance could make newly purchased machines obsolete.
Howell said he has slowed decision-making because of recent turnover and uncertainty at the federal Election Assistance Commission (EAC): "we may back that process up just a little bit to sort of continue to reassess," he said. Commissioners responded that they want to avoid buying equipment that cannot be certified and said any replacement would follow a formal RFP and financing review.
