To: Board of County Commissioners
From: Domonique D. Clemons, Genesee County Clerk/ Register of Deeds
title
RE: Election Equipment request
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
Approve resolution to order additional election equipment with remaining budgeted funds for FY 23 budget year.
BACKGROUND:
As the State of Michigan and Genesee County continue to innovate and move toward new systems to promote safe and secure elections. There is periodically a need to order new election equipment. This is further demonstrated this year, especially with the implementation of Proposal 2 that allows for 9 days of early voting. Early Voting will require various additional pieces of election equipment to successfully maintain the integrity of our election process. As we near to the end of the 23 fiscal year, the office of the Clerk/Register would like to use the remaining budget to purchase equipment to put us in the best possible position for the 2024 election.
DISCUSSION:
This resolution would include the purchase of 10 (ten) Ballot printing units. These units will be used specifically for compliance with early voting sites that will be printing ballots on demand and early voting sites. The one-time purchase of these devices ensure that proper ballot printing procedures are being followed, while limiting the need to print as many ballots prior to the election, creating a future net savings for the county, as the county is responsible for ballot printing. This includes 10 (ten) barcode scanners to use in conjunction with the ballot printing units. These scanners remove human error in manually entering ballot number and style and creates a more secure process. The resolution also includes the purchase of 5 (five) addition ballot scanners (Tabulators) to be used at early voting sites across the county, the purchase of 5 ballot bags to secure voted ballots, and 15 VDrives, which are the flash memory card that is used to program election equipment.
IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES:
None
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
This is a budgeted expense coming from account 1010-215.00-978.000 through the attached budget amendment.
IMPACT ON FACILITIES:
None
IMPACT ON TECHNOLOGY:
None
IMPACT ON INDIRECT COSTS:
None
CONFORMITY TO COUNTY PRIORITIES:
Elections are the pillar of our society. Having safe, secure and accurate elections aligns with the county priority of Health, livable and safe communities, the priority of long-term financial stability, the priority of inclusive collaborative culture, and the priority of community growth. We as a county cannot pursue any of these priorities without an election system that allows residents to have fair and inclusive access to make decisions that affect their safety and wellbeing.
resolution
TO THE HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE GENESEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
WHEREAS, all counties in Michigan are required to begin implementing processes to ensure 9 days of early voting are available for all residents for every state and presidential election beginning in 2024; and
WHEREAS, Hart Intercivic is currently the contracted election system vendor for Genesee County; and
WHEREAS, there is a need to purchase additional election equipment to adequately meet the standards set by the State of Michigan for 9 days of early voting;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that this Board of County Commissioners of Genesee County, Michigan, ratifies approving the request by the County Clerk Register to authorize an expenditure, in an amount not to exceed $95,575.00, to purchase election equipment under the current agreement presently in place at the County Clerk’s office and the 28 Genesee County cities and townships, from Hart Intercivic, said expenditure to be paid from Elections account 1010-215.00-978.000 and the Chief Financial Officer is authorized to record the attached budget amendment.