Miami County leaders willing to write check for voting machines
They say they’ll pay if system exceeds $1.1M the state has allocated.
The Miami County commissioners TROY — told Board of Elections representatives they are willing to spend beyond the $1,096,490 the state has allocated for new voting machines that are the best for the county’s voters and for the elections staff.
The commissioners met Wednesday with elections Director Beverly Kendall and board member Ryan King to hear about the board’s efforts to review available equipment options and select a new system to replace the touchscreen system in use since 2005.
The four-member elections board has debated options including a paper-based scanned ballot system, an electronic voting machine option and a hybrid system using a touch screen to mark the ballot that is printed onto paper and scanned.
Board members have voiced
differing opinions on the best system and last week agreed to hold off on a vote until King had the chance to both talk with the com- missioners and with county information technology staff members who attended vendor equipment demonstra- tions during the past year.
Board Chairman Dave Fisher had called for a vote earlier, saying a decision had been kicked down the road long enough.
System costs range from more than $500,000 to around $2 million but the commissioners and board representat i ves agreed Wednesday the numbers will change before purchase once state pricing for systems is available and coun- ties work together on possible joint purchasing to obtain bulk cost savings.
The state set aside the money that will be used to reimburse counties for expenses for their system.
“I want to get the best system for our voters, the best system for the board of elections staff. If that means the commission has to invest monies over and above what the state is willing help subsidize us for, I am willing to look into that,” said Commission President John “Bud” O’Brien. “Being a fiscal conservative doesn’t mean buying the cheapest thing because it’s the cheapest thing. I want the best thing possible for what we can afford.”
Commissioners Jack Evans and Greg Simmons agreed.