Tag: voter intent

Monroe County voting machines pass test, all set for May 7 primary elections

Samantha Kerr with B&L IT Services, feeds ballots into a scanner. In the background are B&L owner Bob White and Monroe County election supervisor Kylie Moreland. (March 26, 2024)
From left: Monroe County election board member Judith Benckart and LWV spokesperson Deborah “Ralf” Shaw. (March 26, 2024)
Seated from near to far: election supervisor Kylie Moreland, deputy clerk Ashley Lirot, and chief deputy clerk Laura Wert. Standing is Bob White, owner of B&L B&L IT Services. (March 26, 2024)
From left: election board member Judith Benckart, deputy clerk Ashley Lirot, election supervisor Kyle Moreland, and election board member John Fernandez. (March 26, 2024)
Bob White, owner of B&L IT Services (March 26, 2024)

On Tuesday morning, Monroe County’s election equipment, manufactured by Hart InterCivic, passed the logic and accuracy test mandated under state statute.

That means the machines are ready to go for the May 7 primary elections.

The result of the successful test, which included running 2,501 paper ballots through four different scanners, came with a one-word announcement from Bob White: “Bingo!” Continue reading “Monroe County voting machines pass test, all set for May 7 primary elections” →

Election equipment vendors pitch wares to Monroe County officials

Willie Wesley, with ES&S, displays a ballot with the kind of voter intent issue that is eliminated with electronic marking of ballots. (Dave Askins/Beacon)
Willie Wesley, with ES&S, displays a ballot with the kind of voter intent issue that is eliminated with electronic marking of ballots. (Dave Askins/Beacon)

Monroe County is looking to get some new election equipment. The 2020 budget adopted last Tuesday by the county council includes a general obligation bond, out of which around $1 million could be used on the purchase of new voting machines. The council’s decision on the bond issuance isn’t expected until its November meeting.

On Monday afternoon, four different vendors pitched their wares to county officials as part of their response to the RFP (request for proposals) that’s been issued by the county. The RFP says the county is looking either to lease or purchase the equipment.

Vendors on hand to demonstrate their voting machines at the courthouse on Monday were: Hart Intercivic, out of Austin, Texas;  Election Systems & Software (ES&S), out of Omaha, Nebraska; Unisyn Voting Systems  out of Vista, California; and MicroVote General Corporation from Indianapolis.

Proposals from vendors have to be turned in to the board of county commissioners by Oct. 22. The timeline in the RFP is described as a “best estimate.” After possible interviews, the evaluation of the proposals is planned for Nov. 2. A decision by commissioners could be made at their regular meeting on Nov. 6.

Keith McGinnis (left) represented Unisyn Voting Systems. He’s talking to Hal Turner, member of Monroe County’s election board. (Dave Askins/Beacon)
Keith McGinnis holds the printed receipt-style ballot produced by Unisyn’s system. (Dave Askins/Beacon)
Larime Wilson, Monroe County’s absentee voting lead, talks to Microvote’s Mike Yaggi. (Dave Askins/Beacon)
Willie Wesley of ES&S demonstrates his company’s voting equipment for county officials. (Dave Askins/Beacon)
Hart Intercivic’s Lawrence Leach demonstrates his company’s equipment for Angie Purdie, who’s administrator for the board of county commissioners. (Dave Askins/Beacon)
An optical scanner from ES&S. (Dave Askins/Beacon)
Willie Wesley of ES&S demonstrates his company’s voting equipment for county officials. (Dave Askins/Beacon)

Continue reading “Election equipment vendors pitch wares to Monroe County officials” →